United Kingdom. A Royal Air Force Officer's Sword, c.1942

Sword incorporates a magnetic steel blade, with a dull edge and having a sharp tip, with the fuller running half the length of the sword on both sides, marked "MADE IN ENGLAND" on the spine. Both sides are etched with a series of ribbon banners interlaced with laurel leaves. The obverse ricasso incorporates an etched Damascus six-pointed star, with tri-leaf motifs placed between each of the star points, plus an inset brass disk inscribed "PROVED" placed in the centre of the star. The reverse ricasso is etched with the maker mark "ALKIT Ltd CAMBRIDGE CIRCUS LONDON W.C.2.". The blade exhibits surface wear, along with scratches overall, common to extraction and return to the scabbard, measuring 825 mm in length, with a grayish-brown leather washer at its base and is firm in the hilt. The handle and crossguard are in brass, the latter with a 55 mm in width x 44 mm in height oval bronze gilt plate affixed bearing the Royal Air Force eagle insignia surmounted by the Royal crown. The grip is in a white fishskin synthetic pebbled material and wrapped in seven rows of rolled copper wire, all of which is intact. The handle is wrapped with a cord in fine gold-coloured bullion wire with a central stripe in grayish-blue embroidery, the slider in rolled gold-coloured bullion wire and interlaced with grayish blue threading in a thatched pattern, the cord finished with a 60 mm long portepee in rolled gold-coloured bullion wire in a thatched pattern. The pommel features the head of an eagle, with excellent detailing in the feathering, the sword measuring 975 mm in length. The accompanying scabbard with a black patent leather wrapped body, brass chape, central band and locket, each of which incorporates various floral-like swirls. The chape is finished in a snub-nosed style, while the central band and the locket each have a single suspension ring affixed, the throat with a smooth rolled edge, the scabbard measuring 840 mm in length and exhibiting scattered wear spots on the leather body, along with light contact on the brass fixtures. Very fine.