One of my ancestors was a Lieut. R.N. around the time of the Napoleonic Wars. I have his portrait and also 3 swords. With a bit of help (not a lot!) from an auctioneer's valuation day and subsequent Googling I have identified one sword as Navy 1805 pattern (as first used by Nelson, apparently) and the other two as Navy 1827 pattern. The dates of the gent in question are 1777 to 1846, so it's quite possible that all three were his, though why he would have two the same I don't know.
The 1827 pattern sword continued in production for many years, so they could be anything up to late 19th. century. His son was a merchant captain (sailed with the Black Ball Line to Australia - see my avatar) so I don't think he would have an RN sword. His grandson was also in the merchant navy (ending up as Marine Superintendent of one of the big shipping lines) but was also appointed an honorary Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve in the 1880s. All I can hope is that the design of the sword changed slightly over the years. None of the swords has any engraving on the blade. The scabbard of one of the 1827 swords has survived.
The 1827 pattern sword continued in production for many years, so they could be anything up to late 19th. century. His son was a merchant captain (sailed with the Black Ball Line to Australia - see my avatar) so I don't think he would have an RN sword. His grandson was also in the merchant navy (ending up as Marine Superintendent of one of the big shipping lines) but was also appointed an honorary Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve in the 1880s. All I can hope is that the design of the sword changed slightly over the years. None of the swords has any engraving on the blade. The scabbard of one of the 1827 swords has survived.
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