Wilkinson Silver Basket-Hilt. Need Help, Big Time!

[bob erlandson]

Here's a magnificent Wilkinson mystery sword about which I'm looking for all the help I can get.

The facts: Basket hilt and scabbard are sterling silver, hallmarked by Wilkinson, 1966.

Blade is that of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. The hallmarks are five years after the Camerons and the Seaforths merged to form the Queen's Own Highlanders.

Four thistle emblems on the basket, two in silver and two in either gold or brass -- that's still to be determined. The pommel is cast silver, with a thistle in each rib, and the pommel screw is a beautifully detailed silver thistle.

The scabbard has a silver thistle design at the tip, on each side just above the ball drag. Also, the scabbard has no carrying rings or frog button so was made strictly for display.

The sword and the scabbard are lacquered, which is why it remains so shiny and clean after all these years.

Blade has no serial number so Wilkinson can't check the registry. Their older employees were queried but none could remember anything from the 1960s.

The Highlanders Museum was also queried and came up dry, with nothing to note 1966 as a commemorative date.

The sword came from an estate sale in Missouri and was found in the attic of an elderly and well-traveled Greek, or Greek-descent, couple who left no descendants who could know anything about the sword.

My theory is that someone had the sword made to commemorate the amalgamation of the Camerons and Seaforths. The Cameron connection dominated, hence the regimental blade.

The St. Andrew badge on the basket is the same style as that on Seaforth Highlander sgian dubhs, a sculpted figure with St. Andrew in front of his cross. On Cameron and Black Watch badges the figure is flat and St. Andrew is behind the cross.

Who had the sword made, why and how it got to Missouri are so far unanswered questions.

Are there any Wilkinson Commemorative experts out there who have seen another example of a sword like this or anyone who can offer any information -- or speculation -- about it? I would really like to pin this one down. My e-mail is boberl@boberl.com

[bob erlandson]

Originally posted by bob erlandson
Here's a magnificent Wilkinson mystery sword about which I'm looking for all the help I can get.

The facts: Basket hilt and scabbard are sterling silver, hallmarked by Wilkinson, 1966.

Blade is that of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. The hallmarks are five years after the Camerons and the Seaforths merged to form the Queen's Own Highlanders.

Four thistle emblems on the basket, two in silver and two in either gold or brass -- that's still to be determined. The pommel is cast silver, with a thistle in each rib, and the pommel screw is a beautifully detailed silver thistle.

The scabbard has a silver thistle design at the tip, on each side just above the ball drag. Also, the scabbard has no carrying rings or frog button so was made strictly for display.

The sword and the scabbard are lacquered, which is why it remains so shiny and clean after all these years.

Blade has no serial number so Wilkinson can't check the registry. Their older employees were queried but none could remember anything from the 1960s.

The Highlanders Museum was also queried and came up dry, with nothing to note 1966 as a commemorative date.

The sword came from an estate sale in Missouri and was found in the attic of an elderly and well-traveled Greek, or Greek-descent, couple who left no descendants who could know anything about the sword.

My theory is that someone had the sword made to commemorate the amalgamation of the Camerons and Seaforths. The Cameron connection dominated, hence the regimental blade.

The St. Andrew badge on the basket is the same style as that on Seaforth Highlander sgian dubhs, a sculpted figure with St. Andrew in front of his cross. On Cameron and Black Watch badges the figure is flat and St. Andrew is behind the cross.

Who had the sword made, why and how it got to Missouri are so far unanswered questions.

Are there any Wilkinson Commemorative experts out there who have seen another example of a sword like this or anyone who can offer any information -- or speculation -- about it? I would really like to pin this one down. My e-mail is boberl@boberl.com

The pommel is so striking that I just had to post its picture, too.

[David K. Wilson]

That is certainly a distinctive Regimental hilt; I don't believe I've seen anything quite like it.

Pat Tougher at Scottish Sword and Shield may be able to assist; He's quite knowledgeable regarding Scottish arms and militaria. And if he can't assist, he may be able to direct you to someone who can. His phone and e-mail are on his website:
www.scottishsword.com

[bob erlandson]

Originally posted by D. Wilson
That is certainly a distinctive Regimental hilt; I don't believe I've seen anything quite like it.

Pat Tougher at Scottish Sword and Shield may be able to assist; He's quite knowledgeable regarding Scottish arms and militaria. And if he can't assist, he may be able to direct you to someone who can. His phone and e-mail are on his website:
www.scottishsword.com

Thanks much. That's a good idea. I know Pat and he may indeed know someone who can provide some information.

This sword is definitely different and someone obviously went to a great deal of trouble and expense to have it made. I'm very curious as to whether it's a one-off or if there are others.

[Scott Bubar]

Originally posted by bob erlandson Their older employees were queried but none could remember anything from the 1960s.
[/B]

I see I'm not the only one with that problem.

[John Hart]

Originally posted by Scott Bubar


I see I'm not the only one with that problem.

If you can remember it, you weren't there!!!

John

[John Harvey]

Bob,
You would have been better off asking the apprentices, who might well have remembered. It would be the older guys who have the problem with short term memory loss. This is Wilkies, you are dealing with!

I would speculate that this sword was bought by the mess, to honour an outgoing Colonel, or someone who had brought distinction to the regiment (local distiller?). It would be unlikely that the museum would have the details of this, unless the curator was both there and sober at the time. However, the mess committee records of the period would contain the minutes of the deal, and these should be accessable were you to contact the current regimental mess president, whose details should be available from the museum.
Of course, it could have been purchased by an ex-member of the regiment as a gift, but there is most probably some regimental tie-in to a formal presentation of some sort.
But strange that Wilkies have contracted such amnesia regarding an unusual one-off!
Best,
John

"Their older employees were queried but none could remember anything from the 1960s".


The Highlanders Museum was also queried and came up dry, with nothing to note 1966 as a commemorative date."

[WBranner]

Are you the one that picked this one up? I bailed around $800.