Yokohama Mounted Volunteers Sword by Wilkinson

Will M · 15th July 2017, 06:01 PM

An interesting sword by Wilkinson etched on its 34 1/2" blade "Yokohama Mounted Volunteers. The double (stopped) fullered blade with 10 1/2" sharpened false edge and
patent 4 bar hilt.
The serial number is on the bottom edge of the blade with the small "Latham" stamp. A virtually straight blade has a leather lined scabbard with German silver mouth.
Light flexible blade is 5/16" thick at ricasso and 1 1/4" wide tapering to 1" beginning of the false edge. Blade retaining much of the original polish.
Only the Wilkinson proof disc is absent though the sword and scabbard exhibit "best" quality.

The Wilkinson proof page records:
P. A. Knife Pattern, Regulation Curve, Privates, 3 Barred, Light Cavalry Sword
It was finished by Henry Wilkinson & Son on…. 24 May 1866
Purchased by……….C. F. Hooper Esq. Japan

Will M · 16th July 2017, 01:51 AM

On a n old SFI post, Robert Wilkinson-Latham wrote this about Yokohama Mounted Volunteers:
Some details of the Volunteers in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Yokahama.
Hong Kong
Danger is always a stimulusto volunteer efforts and the first Volunteers owed their origin toa foreign 'scare' occurring at a time of war with Russia and imagined insecurity in Hong Kong. This led the colonial au-
thorities in June 1854 to take the initiative in calling for a corps
of Volunteers for the defence of the lives and properties of
themselves and their families in the temporary absence of a
naval force sufficient to deal with an emergency. (It is interesting
that Government called for an Auxiliary Police Force at the
same time.) This call lost its magic when the emergency did not
materialise and naval protection was restored, and for a few
years there were no Volunteers in being.

Attempts to form a new Corps in 1857 proved an utter failure',
the subject was mooted in the press in 1860 without result, and
the eventual establishment of a new body of Volunteers on 7
April 1862 can be traced to an enthusiast, Captain Frederick Brine,
Royal Engineers, a regular officer who had formed the Shanghai
Volunteers in 1861 and went on to form other corps at Hankow
and Yokohama.

From: A SHORT HISTORY OF MILITARY
VOLUNTEERS IN HONG KONG
JAMES HAYES

15th July 2017, 06:01 PM	#1
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 391	Yokohama Mounted Volunteers Sword by Wilkinson An interesting sword by Wilkinson etched on its 34 1/2" blade "Yokohama Mounted Volunteers. The double (stopped) fullered blade with 10 1/2" sharpened false edge and patent 4 bar hilt. The serial number is on the bottom edge of the blade with the small "Latham" stamp. A virtually straight blade has a leather lined scabbard with German silver mouth. Light flexible blade is 5/16" thick at ricasso and 1 1/4" wide tapering to 1" beginning of the false edge. Blade retaining much of the original polish. Only the Wilkinson proof disc is absent though the sword and scabbard exhibit "best" quality. The Wilkinson proof page records: P. A. Knife Pattern, Regulation Curve, Privates, 3 Barred, Light Cavalry Sword It was finished by Henry Wilkinson & Son on…. 24 May 1866 Purchased by……….C. F. Hooper Esq. Japan Attached Images

16th July 2017, 01:51 AM	#2
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 391	On a n old SFI post, Robert Wilkinson-Latham wrote this about Yokohama Mounted Volunteers: Some details of the Volunteers in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Yokahama. Hong Kong Danger is always a stimulusto volunteer efforts and the first Volunteers owed their origin toa foreign 'scare' occurring at a time of war with Russia and imagined insecurity in Hong Kong. This led the colonial au- thorities in June 1854 to take the initiative in calling for a corps of Volunteers for the defence of the lives and properties of themselves and their families in the temporary absence of a naval force sufficient to deal with an emergency. (It is interesting that Government called for an Auxiliary Police Force at the same time.) This call lost its magic when the emergency did not materialise and naval protection was restored, and for a few years there were no Volunteers in being. Attempts to form a new Corps in 1857 proved an utter failure', the subject was mooted in the press in 1860 without result, and the eventual establishment of a new body of Volunteers on 7 April 1862 can be traced to an enthusiast, Captain Frederick Brine, Royal Engineers, a regular officer who had formed the Shanghai Volunteers in 1861 and went on to form other corps at Hankow and Yokohama. From: A SHORT HISTORY OF MILITARY VOLUNTEERS IN HONG KONG JAMES HAYES