E1509

Side-ring stirrup guard sword Long Caption: The hilt consists of a gilt brass straight stirrup guard which once had an obverse side-ring opposite the cross. There is a small, upturned quillon with near disc finial and a 'cushion' pommel bearing rubbed and slight engraved decoration surmounted by a prominent tang button. This sword is of interest because it furnishes an example of the sort of stirrup guard more often associated in the Navy with the beaded or five-ball hilt. The blade may, with further research, prove similarly interesting but it was not originally fitted to the hilt. An unusual amount of copper seems to have been used in the hilt mounts. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London Object: WPN1455 Artist: unknown Date: 1790-1810 Medium: brass-gilt; ivory; steel; brass Size: 806 mm x 24 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.