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Hilt, English, c. 1700; blade of unidentified origin, but possibly contemporary with the hilt.

Overall length 92.7 cm; length of blade 80 cm

Silver-gilt hilt of conventional form, cast in relief and chased with foliage and masks; a pronounced raised border forms an outer margin to each of the two symmetrical shell-guards; the bulgy quillon-block supports both quillon and knuckleguard, and the arms issue from goats' heads chiselled on the sides of the block, as do the quillon and knuckleguard, though formed separately.

Straight, steel blade, hollow-ground and of triangular section, blued at the forte and inscribed in eighteenth-century lettering, 'This was the Sword of John Duke of / Marlborough & worn by him in all his / Victories from 1701 to 1712'.

Original scabbard of wood carved in black leather; the mounts silver-gilt and decorated en suite with the hilt.