Code: 12341
An 1821 Pattern Presentation Cavalry Officers Sword of the Staffordshire Yeomanry.
"Presented To Lieutenant Ralph Sneyd On His Coming Of Age This 10th Day Of December 1884. By The Officers, Non Commissioned Officers and Troopers Of The Newcastle Squadron, Queens Own Royal Staffordshire Yeo"
Ralph Sneyd, of Keele Hall (later Keele University) would later rise to become the Colonel of the Staffordshire Yeomanry.
A fine head and shoulder portrait of Colonel Sneyd HERE.
During WW1 he achieved his place in history, as the British Officer who arrested the notorious and celebrated exotic dancer, courtesan and spy, Mata Hari, for counter-espionage at the Champs-Elysées Hotel in Paris.
The sword itself is an 1821 Pattern Light Cavalry Officers sword by Robert Mole, of Birmingham. The hilt exhibits some unusual features, noticably all the components are silver plated, and consist of a stepped pommel with retaining button, and smooth backpiece with chequered thumbpiece and a more standard three bar guard with large quillion.
The grip of shagreen bound with silver twistwire.
The blade is heavily decorated with foliate engraving, crowned interlocking VR cypher, with the Staffordshire knot below. Moles details and proof slug to either ricasso.
The scabbard has also been heavily silver plated, but has suffered some corrosion at one end. Luckily this has not effected the blade.
A unique sword, to a famous Staffordshire landowner, and apprehender of one of the most famous spies of the 20thC!!
Strictly over 18's only. Photo ID will be required before this item can be dispatched. Please send this at the time of ordering, to prevent unnecessary delay in your order being dispatched.
Please read our page with information on ordering bladed articles HERE.
