Canadian Military Pattern 1897 Infantry Officer's Sword

The Pattern 1897 Infantry Officer's Sword: This became the definitive standard for Canadian infantry officers and remains so today. The 1897 pattern featured a stiff, straight blade engineered solely for the thrust. It is most recognizable by its symmetrical, three-quarter basket steel guard.

This specific pattern has several defining historical characteristics:

•         The Guard Badge: Inside the oval cartouche of the steel gothic guard, is the crowned strung bugle (or light infantry bugle). This emblem was exclusively used by Rifle and Light Infantry regiments rather than standard line infantry units.

•         The Crown Style: The crown sitting directly above the bugle represents the reigning monarch at the time the sword was forged.

•         Canadian Connection: In Canada, this exact pattern was famously carried by prominent historical rifle units, such as The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, the Winnipeg Rifles, and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.

This distinct marking on the sword’s ricasso (the flat base of the blade) is the official proof mark of the Wilkinson Sword Company.  Specifically, this is known as the "HW" Proof Disc, a major sign of quality and authenticity highly sought after by military collectors.

The Inset Brass Disc: Introduced around 1845 by Henry Wilkinson, this small circular brass or gilt disc was pressed into a countersunk hole on the blade. It signified that the blade had successfully passed Wilkinson's rigorous Eprouvette machine—a brutal mechanical test that flexed and struck the blade to guarantee it wouldn't shatter or bend permanently in combat.