UNIFORMS & EQUIPMENT

Presentation Swords

It has long been the custom to present swords to officers who have distinguished themselves and there is a wide range of weapons of this type. The best known of those from the Napoleonic period are those swords which emanated from the Patriotic Funs at Lloyds between 1803 and 1810. The swords fall into four categories of graduated magnificence, being described as :

• £30 swords

• £50 swords

• £100 swords

• Trafalgar swords, this being a special variation of the £100 design.

Of the Trafalgar swords 29 were presented, 25 to Captains and 4 to Lieutenants who commanded ships. The £100 swords were intended for Captains and Commanders, but of the 39 presented 2 went to Lieutenants, one to a Commodore of the honourable East India Company and 2 to Army Officers. the £50 swords were primarily intended for Lieutenants, but of 88 made, 1 went to a Master, 9 to Officers of the RM, 15 to Captains in the H.E.I Co. Service and 3 to Army Officers. The 16 £30 swords went to 4 Mates, 8 Midshipmen and 4 Lieutenants of Marines. These swords were heavy curved blades, richly decorated in blue and gold, white ivory grips and gilt hilts. the back piece represents a lion skin, the quillons of Roman fascis and the knuckle guard, which is a right angles, the club of Hercules with a snake entwined about it. The scabbards are of leather or blue velvet, according to type, and are so encase in gilt metal that only two panels show through on each side. The metal is profusely ornamented with designs in relief and in the more costly swords these swords also partially fill the panels. Other presentation swords followed to a varying degree the Lloyds tradition of design.

Another type of presentation sword, generally of earlier date than the Lloyds swords and the fashion which they started, were the small swords. Some beautiful examples with enamelled hilts were presented by the City of London and others cast in relief came from private individuals. Although the various swords referred to above were not of uniform pattern they were proudly worn by their recipients with full dress and can be seen in many portraits. Other presentation swords and dirks may be found which differ only in small particulars from uniform swords and in some cases are merely the standard pattern with an inscription engraved on blade, hilt or scabbard.

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