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A PRESENTATION SWORD TO LIEUTENANT HENRY PYNN OF THE (BRITISH) 82ND FOOT (PRINCE OF WALES'S VOLUNTEERS)

BLADE BY RUNKEL, SOLINGEN,CIRCA 1800

Details

A PRESENTATION SWORD TO LIEUTENANT HENRY PYNN OF THE (BRITISH) 82ND FOOT (PRINCE OF WALES'S VOLUNTEERS)
Blade by Runkel, Solingen,circa 1800
Of Light Cavalry (1796) type with curved, fullered blade blued for almost its full length with scattered gilt decoration including the full Royal Arms with large crown and also two Classical figures, probably Mars and Mercury, the back edge engraved with blade-maker's details J. RUNKEL. SOLINGEN, chequered one-piece ivory grip (slightly loose), ornate gilt stirrup hilt with Classical helmet-pommel bearing small white metal plumes (as for Prince of Wales's plumes) and a gilt escutcheon with raised initials HP on the guard, the langets mounted (one mount missing), the other detached (but present) being a crowned GR cypher in white metal, the quillon mounted with a white metal rose each side, the wooden scabbard covered in black leather (slightly defective) with ornate geometrical decoration to the very long gilt chape and corresponding ornamentation at lower end of the locket which is mounted with a small silvered plaque engraved THE GIFT OF THE OFFICERS OF THE BARONY OF LOGHILL CLOGHET BRIGADE OF YEOMEN TO LIEUTENANT HENRY PYNN, 82nd REGIMENT
32½in. blade

Special notice

Notice Regarding the Sale of Material from Endangered Species. Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country

Lot Essay

Henry Pynn was an officer of the South Down Militia in 1798 before entering the regular Army as an Ensign in the 82nd Regiment the following year. He was a Lieutenant in the 82nd from November 1799 until May 1805 when he was promoted Captain. He embarked for service in Sicily in 1807 and went on to take part in many of the battles of the Peninsular War starting with Rolica and Vimiera in 1808 and then, having been promoted Major and attached to Portuguese troops, Busaco, Fuentes d'Onor, the Siege of Badajoz (and the storming of the citadel) and the battles of Vittoria and of the Pyrenees (via the action in the Maya Pass). He was severely wounded but resumed campaigning before the final major battle at Toulouse in 1814. In that year he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, knighted, and received the medal with three clasps. Two years later he was placed on half-pay and remained in that category of the Army List for nearly forty years

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