A Super British Gentleman's Original Antique, Victorian, Hidden 'Rural' Sword Stick Collector’s Item Made of Hazel or Briarwood With a Fine Wilkinson Sword Blade

An absolute beauty. The blade is fully original mirror polish etched with all its original frosted ground intact, maker marked by Wilkinson Sword, probably the most famous sword making name in the world.

Henry Nock was one of the greatest names is English gun making history. When Henry Nock died in 1804, he left the company to his foreman and adopted son-in-law, James Wilkinson. When James's son Henry Wilkinson joined the company it was renamed James Wilkinson & Son (also known as simply Wilkinson & Son). It became incorporated as the Wilkinson Sword Company in 1891

A sound and effective concealed personal protection sword that was highly popular during the Georgian to Victorian era. London, like many cities around the world at that time, could be a most treacherous place at night, and every gentleman, would carry a weapon for close quarter personal protection or deterrence. The early London Police force recruits 'Bobbies' or 'Peelers' named after Sir Robert Peel their founder were initially poorly selected {plus ca change!.}
Of the first 2,800 new policemen, only 600 kept their jobs, and the very first policeman, given the number 1, was sacked after only four hours service! Eventually, however, the impact upon crime, particularly organised crime led to an acceptance, and approval of the Bobbies.

Meanwhile, as the early police officers were so initially unpopular, and as the public of London had little or no confidence in them, armed personal protection was considered essential. Many would carry a small box-lock pistol or two, others might effect a sword stick. Things changed somewhat over the centuries, at least until the turn of the 21st century, before then, there were police patrols, and they were called, in those days, and 'a constables beat' was where one or two Bobbies, smartly attired in blue uniforms, and high helmet, actually used to patrol the streets, believe it or not, from the length and breadth of the entire country, often in pairs, maintaining law and order 24 hours of the day.
It was a system of public protection and confidence in the British police service that was immensely successful, and ran for for over one hundred & fifty years, in fact it was so successful it was, naturally, phased out, and duly replaced with something considered to be an radical improvement, declared as is so often these days, as, ‘for the benefit of the public!’, and the new system was,...nothing whatsoever.

Code: 24931