402342
- TitleSword : said to have belonged to Matthew Flinders
- Creator
- Call numberSAFE/LR 7
- Level of descriptionseries
- Date
1783 - 1800 - Type of material
- Reference code402342
- Issue CopyDigitised
- Physical DescriptionObjects - Hilt: 15.4 cm; blade 56.2 cm; scabbard 58.5 cm - 1 sword with a gilt brass stirrup hilt. Grip is plain ivory, and shaped to the hand. Scabbard is black leather with two brass loose-ring lockets & rings and chape. A blind embossed geometric saltires and deer slot design has been stamped on the scabbard between the top and middle lockets. Blade is slightly curved and single-edged and flat backed. Two grooves or fullers extend from hilt to the tip of the blade. Some damaged etching - with evidence of possible gilding - and blueing is visible at top of groove near the hilt.
- Access Conditions
Access via appointment - Copying ConditionsOut of copyright: Created before 1955
- General note
It is unclear if this is a navy sword: if it was one would expect to see an anchor somewhere engraved, either on its langets or blade. It is probably not a dress sword: Philip J. Lankester, Senior Curator, Royal Armouries, London.
It has not proved possible to accurately date the sword. The geometric blind embossed design on the scabbard was considered old fashioned by 1800 (see P.G.W. Annis, Naval Swords, Arms and Armour Press, 1970 p. 44), but the design of the stirrup hilt implies a ca. 1800, or later, date.
William Gibbons was a Portsmouth sword cutler who was working at the end of the eighteenth century : see W.E. May & P.G.W. Annis, Swords for Sea Service, London, 1970 vol. 2 p. 326
Digital order no:Album ID : 846715 - Signatures / Inscriptions
On the top locket is engraved "Gibbens Portsmouth" - Topic
- Exhibited in
- Open Rosetta viewer
View Media Files
- Browse collection hierarchy
- Manuscript Index
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- X
- Y
- Z