British Pattern 1827 Volunteer Naval Officer's Sword and Scabbard : Victorian Colonial Navy

Pattern 1827 Volunteer Naval Officer's sword and scabbard. The hilt is a small silver plate solid half basket type with a the Victoria crowned anchor cartouche badge and the back edge of the guard folds down. The grip is silver wire bound over white rayskin and the back strap apommel form a lions head. The pipe backed blade with a double edged spear point was at one stage etched on both sides with a floral design for half the length. The scabbard is the 1845 Pattern of black leather with three silver fittings having a wave pattern design. The chape has been broken off the end. The locket has a loose ring attached to each side and the central band one loose ring. The remnants of a silver sword knot was attached to the guard.

This sword belonged to Lieutenant Frederick Oliver Handfield, who originally enlisted as a cadet in the Royal Navy at the age of 14 years in 1844; after service on various vessels and rising to the rank of lieutenant, he joined the Victorian Navy in August 1861, finally retiring in December 1870.