George V British Robert Mole & Sons Birmingham Makers To The War & India Offices 1897 Pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword To ‘A.A. Harrison 4th Battalion Manchester Regiment’ With Etched Blade Number 6581 & Leather Field Covered Scabbard Swords

**QUALITY MAKER**George V British Robert Mole & Sons Birmingham Makers To The War & India Offices 1897 Pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword To ‘A.A. Harrison 4th Battalion Manchester Regiment’ With Etched Blade Number 6581 & Leather Field Covered Scabbard. Sn - 19437

The 4th Battalion (1900-1906) came into existence in 1900 at Aldershot, and for a short time Lieutenant-Colonel Gethin remained in charge of both, 3rd & 4th battalions, but on the 1 May 1900 Lieutenant-Colonel L. L. Steele was brought in from the Wiltshire Regiment to command the 4th Battalion. The summer of this year was passed at Aldershot, and then on the 4 and 5 December the battalion left by rail in two parties and proceeded to Portland, taking over quarters in the Citadel. During its brief existence the 4th Battalion seems to have been regarded by the authorities as a draft-producing unit, and from first to last it gave no fewer than 32 officers and 1,726 non-commissioned officers and men to other corps, mainly of course to the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Regiment. The 4th battalion served in the Boer War and post war was merged with other Regiments in 1906. This is an original 1897 British Infantry officer’s sword to ‘A.A. Harrison 4th Battalion Manchester Regiment’. These swords were a great improvement on previous patterns with better protection to the hand through its ¾ basket hilt (see page 179 of World Swords by Withers & pages 165-167 of Swords of the British Army by Robson). The sword has a 32 ½” single edged blade with partial fullers. The ricasso is signed by quality British manufacturer ‘Robert Mole & Sons Birmingham Makers To The War & India Offices’. The reverse has the ordnance acceptance ‘proof’ star and inlaid roundel. Both sides of the blade have etched panels featuring foliate devices, the King’s crown & Royal Cypher ‘GRV’ (George Fifth Rex). The spine of the blade is numbered M6581. It has the correct ¾ bowl guard voided with foliate design and ‘King’s Crown GRV’. The guard near the KC is engraved ‘A.A. Harrison 4th Man Regt’. It has the correct fish skin covered grip with wire binding which is tight and intact. The sword is complete with its leather field covered steel scabbard which has fixed hanging bar & shoe. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 19437

£575.00