Arms, Armour and Militaria

A fine quality Royal Navy officer's sword, by Dudley of Portsmouth, similar, although of smaller proportions, to that ordered for commanders in 1805, the slender straight 68cm blade with wide fullers, lightly frost etched with stands of arms and foliate patterns to both sides, copper-gilt mounted hilt, stirrup guard deeply cast and chased with acanthus leaves, sea shells and in the centre a cartouche containing the Prince of Wales’s feathers, the quillon formed by an ornate conch shell, shield shaped langets filled with crowned fouled anchors, lions head pommel the mane flowing down the rounded backstrap, fluted ferrule, wood grip covered with fish-skin bound with copper wire, complete with its black leather scabbard with three ornate copper-gilt mounts, the locket chased with strapwork and scrolls and within a central medallion the embossed bust of  the Prince Regent the central mount with similar chased decoration, the medallion containing a female figure resting on an anchor, the chape with similar decoration, the suspension fittings in the form of writhing sea-serpents, the back of the locket with the retaillers details 'Dudley, Grand Parade, Portsmouth' minor wear to gilding otherwise in fine condition throughout £1500-1600

Possibly a presentation sword from the then Prince Regent, the use of the Prince of Wales’s feathers, would suggest a date prior to his successsion to the throne in 1820.
 
Dudley are recorded at Grand Parade, Portsmouth from 1790 to the 1880’s.