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Description: | Solid half-basket hilted sword, which belonged to Captain William Hans Blake (died 1874). The hilt of the sword consists of a gilt, solid half-basket guard, with raised bars and a crown and anchor badge. There is a folding flap on the inside of the guard. The sword has a lion's-head pommel and back-piece, the mane extending half of the length of the back-piece. The white fish-skin grip is bound with three gilt wires. The sword has a prominent tang-button.
The steel blade is slightly curved and pipe-backed. The obverse of the blade is engraved with the Royal arms, with supporters, the Latin motto 'DIEU ET MON DROIT' below the arms and a crowned lion above them. The reverse of the blade is engraved with the words 'RAMSEY, Fore St, DAVENPORT', with a crown and a foul anchor motif and other decoration above. The blade is smaller than a regulation blade as Naval Cadets and Midshipmen were able to wear swords appropriate to their height. The mouth of the black leather scabbard is slightly belled. The scabbard has two gilt lockets and rings, and a chape. The mounts are ornamental with threads. There is a ring on each side of the top locket and one on the mid locket. In 1847 the scabbard was altered to hang from two short slings. In 1856 it was altered again to hang from two slings of different lengths. On this occasion the second ring was not removed from the top locket.
This sword belonged to Captain William Hans Blake (died 1874), who must have obtained it when he went to sea in about 1846. He became a Mate on the 29th October 1852 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on the 2nd September 1854. He became a Commander on the 26th June 1860 and was promoted to the rank of Captain on the 14th September 1867. Captain Blake wore this sword throughout his service career. He died in 1874.
caption: sword, solid half-basket hilt
caption: solid half-basket hilt | Publisher: | "http://collections.rmg.co.uk/" | Rights holder: | "Royal Museums Greenwich" | Subjects: | Ramsey William Hans Blake swords Cadet Naval | Source: | Royal Museums Greenwich | Identifier: | http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections... | Go to resource |
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