Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An unusual presentation sword for Cornet H. W. Whiteway of the First Devon Light Horse Volunteers, the deeply curved 90 cm blade by Henry Wilkinson, Pall Mall, London, No. 10222 (for 1860) having double fullers, one extending to within 10 cm of the point, the other to within 3 cm, from which point the blade becomes back-edged, the blade is undecorated but for the maker’s details and the presentation inscription which fills an ornate central panel ‘This sword was presented to Cornet W.H. Whiteway of the First Devon Light Horse Volunteers in 1864 by his brother officers in token of their regard for his disinterested and generous assistance in raising and supporting their Corps’, the unusual hilt in the form of a flat brass stirrup guard deeply engraved with scrolls and strap-work, flat oval pommel with a similar decoration, grip of partly chequered polished hardwood shaped to fit the hand, complete with its wood scabbard covered in black leather with integral frog-stop, brass locket and massive brass chape both engraved en-suite with the hilt mounts, the engraved panels to the hilt and scabbard mounts silver-plated, blade retaining its original finish and the sword in good condition overall £700-800