A Very Fine 18th Century Royal Naval Officer’s Sword of Hunting Sword Type

Gilt brass hilt with fluted wooden grip and finely engraved blade with maker mark and Solingen, and hunting scenes. Quillon block decorated with relief hunting horn and hunting devices. Acorn finials and fluted brass pommel.In the days of the early Royal Navy, officers carried short swords in the pattern of hunting swords, with both straight or curved blades, fancy brass mounted single knucklebow hilts with principally stag horn or reeded ebony grips. Although initially designed to protect the huntsman from a close quarter predatory attack, they were far more popular in England for use as naval officers swords, not as their initial design intended, as Britain had far fewer great wild beasts that might threaten a huntsman.
There are numerous portraits in the National Portrait Gallery and The National Maritime Musuem that show British Admirals [such as Benbow and Clowdesly Shovel] holding such swords, often originally made on the continent. 24.5 inches long overall.

Code: 22526