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Lot 4094Y

An interesting inscribed British Pattern 1831 Mameluke hilted staff officer's sword

17 November 2008, 10:00 PST
San Francisco

Sold for US$1,638 inc. premium

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An interesting inscribed British Pattern 1831 Mameluke hilted staff officer's sword

Curved 33 inch blade by Henry Wilkinson, serial numbered 27395. Etched and engraved with scrolling florals, one side with panel inscribed Taken at the capture of Bida/By Lt. (Major) A.J. Arnold 3rd K.O. Hussars/In the Niger Soudan Campaign/27th Jan. 1897. Gilt brass hilt of standard pattern. Elephant ivory gripscales. Silver bullion sword knot with red piping. Nickeled steel scabbard with brass mounts.
Condition: Blade showing some spotting and minor pitting. Hilt retains most gilt finish. Scabbard showing frosting and spotting to nickel finish. Drag missing. Mounts with traces of gilt finish.
See Illustration

Footnotes

Note: The city of Bida was captured during the Niger Campaign, mainly as a result of problems the Royal Niger Company was having with the Emir of Bida. Two years later the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria was proclaimed and the territories of the Royal Niger Company were transferred to the Colonial Office.
This sword was sold as an aide-de-camps sword by Wilkinson some years earlier. It would appear to be war booty taken from an unknown British officer, perhaps in the 1st Sudan Campaign.

Additional information

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