September 5-7, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2023
A nice example of a British pattern 1854 Infantry Officer’s sword named to an officer of the 28th North Gloucestershire Regiment. The sword features a straight spearpoint blade with wide fuller that is decorated for over half its length with elegant scrollwork. Hilt with VR crest on slotted guard with full backstrap and tiered pommel. Grip is made of wood and swelled with grooves, wrapped in sharkskin and twisted brass wire. Complete with steel scabbard that features a nickeled throat and 2 carry rings. The blade exhibits a pleasing patina with scattered blemishes and areas of oxidation, especially near ricasso. Guard with nice patina and scattered blemishes. Grip is intact with scuffs to sharkskin and tight brass wire. Scabbard with gray/chocolate patina and scattered blemishes. The presentation is located at the center of the obverse blade and reads: “PRESENTED BY THE SERGEANTS OF THE 28TH NORTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGT. / TO T.G. LUMSDEN ESQRE. ON HIS PROMOTION TO THE 6TH ROYAL FIRST WARKSHIRE REGT. / MALTA. JANUARY 1873.” The 28th had served in India from 1858 to 1865 and then returned to service in the Mediterranean, where Lumsden received this sword. He had been Sergeant-Instructor of Musketry and under "the new system" was awarded a sub-lieutenant’s commission in 1873 in a different regiment, the 6th Warkwickshire, which had become a royal regiment in 1832. They became the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1881 under the Childer reforms and then consisted of 2 battalions of regulars, with attached militia and volunteer battalions as well. Lumsden was promoted to lieutenant in 1874 and reached the rank of Captain in the regiment before transferring out to join the Pay Department in September 1882, retiring from that post in October 1890. CONDITION: Good.