PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A "Sam Browne" harness assembly which consists of the belt, single cross strap, sword frog and sword and scabbard. A nice quality, mid-brown, 2 1/4" wide leather belt. The belt features, to one end, a double-clawed brass buckle, brass retaining stud, and leather retaining loop. Seven pairs of buckling holes, for the buckle, and seven centered single holes, for the retaining stud, are to the other end of the belt. Near the buckle end are four brass "D" rings, positioned above and below one another in two sets, approximately 8" apart. The brass hook normally affixed on the belt between the two sets of "D" rings has been removed. The upper "D" rings were for attaching the cross strap while the lower ones were for the sword frog. To the center top of the belt is a single "D" ring attached by a rivet and stitching while closer to the adjustment end are two more places where "D" rings appear to have been removed. There is also a single stud hole toward the center of the belt. The brown, two piece leather cross strap is made up of a long shoulder strap, about 32" long, that tapers to one end with four adjustment holes for the buckle and a shorter strap, about 5 3/4" long with a single prong buckle to one end and two leather retaining loops. To the other end of both straps are sewn leather tabs with eyelets that fold over to mate with brass studs at the end of the straps where the tabs are sewn. A multi piece, leather constructed, sword frog, the body consisting of two pieces of leather stitched together to form an open bottomed pocket, the rear piece about 7 3/4" tall with a curved top, 6 " wide, tapering down to 3 1/2" at the bottom and the front piece about 5 1/4" tall, 4" wide at the top and 3 1/2" at the bottom. Stitched to the top of the rear piece is a small leather tab with a "D" ring. There are four 1" wide leather straps, two to the back and two to the front, with overlapping ends that angle out towards the top, forming a "V", stitched in place with a reinforcing rivet to each strap and a central rivet on the overlapping ends to the back and a flared brass stud to the front. The rear straps are about 19 3/4" long, extent about 14" past the top of the frog and have a floating leather retaining loop and three adjustment eyelets towards the end. The front straps are about 7 1/4" long and have two "D" rings, one at the end and one about 2 1/2" from the end with a flared brass stud between them. The rear straps are threaded though the "D" ring at the end of the front straps, then thought the leather loop, through the "D" ring on the belt, back though the leather loop, over the stud, locking it in place, and though the lower "D" ring on the front strap. The front central stud is for a retaining strap that is attached to the sword scabbard to keep it in the frog. There is also a small 1/2" wide leather strap to the bottom of the frog that passes through slits on the sides and is used to tighten the bottom of the frog around the sword scabbard. An 1897 pattern Infantry Officers sword with its original leather covered field service scabbard. The sword has a 32 1/2", engraved, nickel/silver plated, thrusting blade with pierced, nickel/silver plated, steel hilt, a black, wire wrapped, fish-skin grip, and plain pommel. The blade is etched both sides with floral and geometric decoration, sunburst, crown and Royal Coat of Arms over GR V. To one ricasso is etched an eight pointed star with a "R" above a dot and below "PROVED" brass circular proof mark to its center. The other ricasso is etched with the makers name and address "Army & Navy", "Co-Operative", "Society", "105", "Victoria St", "London", "S.W.". The blade has a single fuller that runs from the ricasso about 1/3 of the length of the blade. Stamped into the spine of the blade near the hilt is the serial number "13149". The plated hilt is pierced and engraved with a variety of patterns which include the George "V" crowned royal cypher. This sword would have been made between 1910-1936 during the rein of King George the Fifth. The 34 1/4" long leather covered, wood scabbard has a flared reinforced end , an aluminum throat insert, and the wrap around leather throat piece with a 6" by 3/4" leather strap with two eyelets that attaches to the front stud on the sword frog. The belt is age darkened and usage stained with age patina to the brass but is still quite flexible. The strap is age darkened, has some chaffing and cracks to it and is moderately usage stained but is still flexible and in good condition. Although the frog is age darkened and usage stained and the straps are slightly surface cracked and chafed it is in good condition with all its parts and stitching intact. The scabbard is in good condition with some age darkening, a few nicks and scratches to the leather and a crack that has loosened the tip. While the unsharpened blade of the sword has some light runner marks and some minor pitting, the hilt has some surface pitting to the inside and some minor marks to the edges, the blade and hilt are still bright and the fish-skin grip and wire wrap is fully intact with only minor usage wear. Except for the brass hexagon tang button, which appears to be a replacement, the sword appears completely original.

GRADE***3/4                             PRICE $645.00