King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

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Sword Presented to Colonel T Brinley, 1805.

Sword presented to Colonel T Brinley, 1805.
Blade of blue steel, one cutting edge, fullered. Engraved in gold, formal design, crown in inscription "The King’s Own Regt.". The regimental crest - a lion, a formal design, trophy of helmet, colours, shield, drums and trumpet, formal design. Grip, ivory bound with gilt wire. Guard, up-curved quillons and chain. Device on circle on hilt, a lion. Pommel, horse’s head in gilt brass. Scabbard, black leather with gilt mounts. Top mount, embossed with trophies of arms, crown and royal cypher George I-III with inscription on Garter "Honi soit qui mal y pense." Middle mount, formal design. Bottom mount, formal design with trophy of arms and regiment crest, a lion.
As far as the hilt, can only be said to be "fancy free," and quite non-regulation. The use of a chain is found in cavalry band swords from the era of sartorial decoration after the peace of 1815 to the mid-nineteenth century.
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Brinley joined the 2nd Battalion 4th (or The King’s Own) Regiment of Foot, from the West India Regiment, 7th October, 1799, and transferred to the 1st Battalion in 1802, but left in 1805. On leaving the Regiment on his appointment as Quartermaster-General in the West Indies, the officers evinced their esteem for him by inviting him to an entertainment prepared for the occasion, and by presenting him with a sword valued at fifty guineas. After dinner, Colonel Brinley was address by Major Dales as follows:

"The King’s Own have directed me to inform you that, while they rejoice at your promotion, they feel much distressed at parting with an Officer whose whole time has been so zealously and successfully employed for the general welfare of the Corps. It is their intention to beg your acceptance of a small mark of their universal esteem and it naturally suggested itself to them that a sword was the most appropriate token; and while it will keep alive you attachment to them, opportunities will probably occur when it will be drawn in the defence of the best of Kings and best of governments."

To which the Colonel replied:

"I beg leave to express in the warmest terms, how much I feel the marked attention showed me by this very elegant entertainment. I return you a thousand thanks for the testimony of your attachment, esteem and regard, manifested by the proposed present of a superb sword which I shall wear with pride, and I hope with honour to the end of my life. To your assistance alone during the three years I have had the honour to command you, am I indebted for enabling me to bring the King’s Own Regiment to its present state of perfection; and I attribute the recent mark of favour which His Majesty has been graciously pleased to confer on me, to you generous aid"

 
Sword
Accession Number: KO2454/01

Sword
Accession Number: KO2454/01

 
Scabbard
Accession Number: KO2454/02

 
Scabbard
Accession Number: KO2454/02

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.