Williams Gallery West Collectibles - Swords, Knives, Spears and other weapons

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E. Thurkle English Straight Sword

The King's Own Scottish Borderers

19th century English ceremonial sword.  Metal sheath with two support rings.  Steel blade with maker's mark "E Thurkle, Maker, Denmark St. Soho London."  

Makers mark dates the weapon to between 1876 - 1899

Sharkskin and wire-wrapped hilt. Straight guard with rounded end caps.  Pommel is pierced for a lanyard or tassel.

overall length 39 1/4" width of blade at base 1" blade length 32 7/8" sheath length 33 7/8"

Very nice etched details on both sides with intertwining floral designs, thistles, and renderings of Edinburgh castle, a lion-headed horse, and a sphinx.  Several inscriptions including "The King's Own Scottish Borderers", the word "EGYPT" under the sphinx, and Latin inscriptions NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA ( translates "In vain without the lord"),  and NEC ASPERA TERRENT ( translates "Perils do not Frighten"), and the names Egmont Op Zee, Minoen, Martinique, Egypt, Afghanistan, and the dates 1878-1880 etched along the blade among floral designs.  The names are a list of "battle honors" naming campaigns the regiment took part in during the 19th century.

Overall the sword is in very good condition. Blade has minor tarnish here and there and a number of very small edge dents from sparring or sword fighting. Sheath has light tarnish overall, and one small dent on one side.

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for a short history of the regiment

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to visit the regiment's official web site

Maker obviously had a sense of humor. Details of the Sphinx's face are reminiscent of the large nose and double chin of a stereotypical English magistrate. Base of blade etched with a six pointed star with a circular center stamp embossed with the the word PROVED and a central T.

The King's Own Scottish Borderers is an English regiment created in 1689 as a crisis measure for the defense of Edinburgh against the Jacobites. It has fought in many campaigns throughout history, including the Gulf Conflict in 1991.

The 1st Battalion was engaged in the Second Afghan War of 1878-1880 and the 2nd Battalion, which had been raised in 1859, was in action in Egypt in 1888.

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