9th regt. of foot, Royal Norfolk Regt.

Will M · 12th July 2021, 02:43 AM

I don't see any 1856 dating only 1855.
Try blocking out letters either side of the letter you are looking at.
By taking each letter individually you can see "Med" instead of "Steel'
Same for "Gren" can ge "Gen" or "Srew" or "Screw guard", and I have seen the same notation on other proof pages for "screw guard".
There is no Grenadier guard military history to the officer, no etching on the blade, nothing to maintain this point .
To maintain Grenadier guard would mean the page is not for this sword at all but the serial numbers match and Wilkinsons name is on the page also.
The Wilkinson name appears to be misspelt, but we know what it should read in this case. This makes me believe the penmanship of the person was so bad it looks like he added letters, made incorrect ones and does not form them correctly.
i hope I'm explaining this satisfactorily. With there being no steel hilt, no Grenadier guard insignia, nothing, and everything is 9th regt. of Foot, the logical conclusion is we're being duped by poor 176 year old penmanship!

Will M · 14th July 2021, 06:36 PM

To add some details, the notation of "NP" as some say represents "nickel plated" may be recording the swords scabbard screws? Normally the blade proof page is the blade only but in this case the whole sword was returned to Wilkinsons. The screws are nickel plated showing no corrosion on themselves or surrounding brass. The brass scabbard replaced the leather/brass upon his promotion to field rank. Maybe if I look on and off enough something will jump out at me?

Richard G · 15th July 2021, 12:46 PM

Could 'np' be 'nb', as in 'nota bene'?
Regards
Richard

Will M · 16th July 2021, 03:43 AM

Richard that had crossed my mind. Good to know I'm not the only one!
We somewhat lose track of HJ Wilkinson once he became a controller. 1 Jan. 1870 he is listed as assistant controller.
In 1862-63 was in Ionian Islands 10 Jul 1862- 31 Aug 1863. Later 1 Sep. 1863 West Indies.

12th July 2021, 02:43 AM	#1
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 394	I don't see any 1856 dating only 1855. Try blocking out letters either side of the letter you are looking at. By taking each letter individually you can see "Med" instead of "Steel' Same for "Gren" can ge "Gen" or "Srew" or "Screw guard", and I have seen the same notation on other proof pages for "screw guard". There is no Grenadier guard military history to the officer, no etching on the blade, nothing to maintain this point . To maintain Grenadier guard would mean the page is not for this sword at all but the serial numbers match and Wilkinsons name is on the page also. The Wilkinson name appears to be misspelt, but we know what it should read in this case. This makes me believe the penmanship of the person was so bad it looks like he added letters, made incorrect ones and does not form them correctly. i hope I'm explaining this satisfactorily. With there being no steel hilt, no Grenadier guard insignia, nothing, and everything is 9th regt. of Foot, the logical conclusion is we're being duped by poor 176 year old penmanship!

14th July 2021, 06:36 PM	#2
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 394	To add some details, the notation of "NP" as some say represents "nickel plated" may be recording the swords scabbard screws? Normally the blade proof page is the blade only but in this case the whole sword was returned to Wilkinsons. The screws are nickel plated showing no corrosion on themselves or surrounding brass. The brass scabbard replaced the leather/brass upon his promotion to field rank. Maybe if I look on and off enough something will jump out at me?

15th July 2021, 12:46 PM	#3
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 409	Could 'np' be 'nb', as in 'nota bene'? Regards Richard

16th July 2021, 03:43 AM	#4
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 394	Richard that had crossed my mind. Good to know I'm not the only one! We somewhat lose track of HJ Wilkinson once he became a controller. 1 Jan. 1870 he is listed as assistant controller. In 1862-63 was in Ionian Islands 10 Jul 1862- 31 Aug 1863. Later 1 Sep. 1863 West Indies.