The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was the air arm of the Royal Navy, under the direction of the Admiralty's Air Department, and existed formally from 1 July 1914 to 1 April 1918, when it was merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force (RAF), the world's first independent air force. This is an excellent WW1 era British Royal Navy Officer’s Sword presented to Captain (Later RAF) William Hallett-Carpenter on being commissioned into the Royal Naval Air Service (Captain William Hallett-Carpenter was commissioned into the RNVR RNAS in 1915 and served as an Armourer and Gunnery Instructor. He transferred to the RAF in April 1918 and was promoted to Captain). The sword in near mint condition has a clean single edged straight blade which is 31¾” in length with central fuller (37 ¾” overall). The blade is crisply etched with Naval fouled anchor & foliate panels on both sides together with King’s crown and heraldic arms. The riccaso is marked on one side by the manufacturer Henry Wilkinson Pall Mall London together with Royal Warrant and the reverse has the ordnance acceptance proof star with inlaid roundel. One side of the blade has a nice presentation panel ‘PRESENTED TO LIEUTENANT W. HALLETT CARPENTER BY THE DIRECTORS OF THE PYRENE Co Ltd UPON HIS JOINING THE ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE AS A MARK OF THEIR APPRECIATION OF HIS VALUABLE SERVICE’. It has a gilt brass lions head with mane pommel and grip strap & full knuckle guard with the Royal Navy Kings Crown and fouled anchor motif. The spine of the blade is number 50993 (1914/17 Period) and has ‘London Made’ cartouche. The sword’s fish skin grip with bullion wire binding is undamaged. Attached to the guard is its bullion cord and portepee all in excellent condition. The sword is complete with its black leather scabbard which has gilt brass mounts and 2 hanging rings. The throat mount has an embossed shield with matching Henry Wilkinson manufacturer detail. The scabbard has a retaining clip which functions as it should, holding the sword securely in the scabbard. The price for this near mint attributed RNAS Officer’s presentation sword set includes UK delivery. Sn 22088
£1,595.00