E1171

Solid half-basket hilt Long Caption: Solid half-basket hilted sword, which belonged to Viscount Walter Runciman of Doxford (1870-1949). The hilt consists of a gilt solid half-basket guard, with a folding flap on the inside to take on the stud on the top locket, and raised bars. It appears that the usual crown and anchor badge of a naval hilt has been machined out and replaced by a smooth medallion, engraved on which are the arms of Trinity House. The sword has a lion's-head pommel and back-piece, the mane extending the length of the back-piece. The white fish-skin grip is bound with three gilt wires. The sword comes complete with a sword knot as worn in the Royal Navy before 1891. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London Object: WPN1163 Artist: unknown Date: 1936 Medium: gilt; fish-skin; gilt wire; steel; leather Size: 70 mm x 975 mm x 115 mm; 810 mm x 22 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.