~ Sword Of Royal Navy Captain Fane Circa 1804 ~
A fine and known piece. The sabre like blade has a single full length fuller to both sides. It has an ivory grip bound with the Royal Navy anchor. The guard has a ships block and tackle and a rams head pommel. The scabbard is of leather with gilt brass mounts.
The scabbard is etched for Cullens Kings Cutler, Charing Cross.
The sword is a known piece, being referenced in the book British Naval Swords and Swordsmanship book by John McGrath and Mark Barton, page 81. It reads…
“Sword Of Captain Fane, an officer who had a meteoric rise from Lieutenant in 1801 to Post Captain in 1804, no doubt helped by his relationship through marriage to Admiral Lord St. Vincent, who was First Lord of the Admiralty Lord St. Vincent at this time. Fane became a prisoner of war in 1810 and never saw active service again. The sword has the Latin phrase on the hilt ‘Libus undis virtuis verae custos rigidusque satelles’ which is the second half of a quote from Epistles Book 1 Number 1 lines 16 and 17 and would have started ‘Nunic agilis flo, et mersor civilibus undis’ meaning in the tumults of public affairs I am the guardian of true virtue and its stern companion the family motto ‘ne ville fano’ meaning ‘from the towns shrine’ and mounted with the family symbol of the Bull. The blade is inscribed ‘Intaminatis fulgeat honoribus’ which means ‘Let him shine with unstained honour’.”
~ Condition ~
The grips on the hilt are un-cracked, the gilt work remains bright. The sword edge is free from nicks. The blade edge is blackened.
The scabbard has a crease on the brass tip. The leather is cracked. The gilt on the fittings are worn. The stitching is decent.
~ Dimensions ~
The sword is 90 cm (35.5 inches) in length with a 74 cm (29 inch) blade.
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