Description

Maker: Wilkinson
Country / Era: Britain, finished 20 April 1900
Type: Royal Artillery sword with Patent Tang
Wilkinson Number: 37863
Blade: Etched “AJCR”
Scabbard: Leather, with hanger and tassel
Provenance: Purchased by A. J. de Carara-Rivers, Suffolk Artillery; Richard Milner Ltd. research letter, copy of the Wilkinson archive record and history included
Condition: Very Good to Very Good+ overall

This is a Wilkinson Royal Artillery sword with the Patent Tang. It was sold in 1900 to Arthur Joseph de Carara-Rivers of the Suffolk Artillery and is etched on the blade “AJCR.” It includes the Milner research letter, along with history on Carara-Rivers, who became Consul to Mexico in 1921, and other military information. It has a leather scabbard with hanger and tassel. Overall Very Good to Very Good+.

The research letter from Richard Milner Ltd. confirms that Wilkinson sword number 37863 was a Royal Artillery sword with Patent Tang, finished by the Wilkinson Sword Company on 20 April 1900 and purchased by A. J. de Carara-Rivers, Suffolk Artillery. A copy of the original Wilkinson archive ledger page is included.

Wilkinson’s patent tang runs the full width of the blade into the hilt, making it much stronger than the narrow tang used on most swords of the period.

Fun fact: In Wilkinson’s handwritten ledger, this sword is recorded simply as “P.T.R.A.,” short for Patent Tang Royal Artillery. The full-width tang was first patented by Charles Reeves in 1853, and Wilkinson bought a majority stake in Reeves’ company in 1883.

SKU: E70