TOPIC:

Chris...…

There is a Wilkinson web site that if you send them (and in some cases it is on the website) the serial number which should be on the top of the blade and they can tell you to whom and when the sword was made and sold.....

Mike

Here is your picture.....

Hi Chris
I believe your Capt R M Ramage is probably this man:

"When Dr Thomas Muir, Superintendent-General of Education, in 1897 approved a grant of £50 towards the salary, and housing, allowance for the principal of the boys' public school in Rondebosch, the man chosen for the handsome stipend was Robert MacLennan Ramage, a graduate of Edinburgh University. Ramage was not without experience of teaching in the flowering new schools of the Colony, having been a teacher at the Stellenbosch (Paul Roos) Gymnasium before, at the age of 38, taking up the challenge at the new school in Rondebosch."

From Rondebosch Boys High School history

Regards
Adrian

I am beginning to think that this is not a real Wilkinson sword. It has no number on the blade. It says London Made. Wilkinson have their name and address on the blade -Pall Mall, this sword don't have it.

Is there anything written on the ricasso, on the blade near the guard? There were several makers and many more retailers of swords at the turn of the century.

One side of the ricasso have the normal six pointed star. The proved mark is also on this side and it looks good. The other side is totally clear. No makers name or address.
Now. Officers and other ranks were issued a Wilkinson sword, according to their rank and regiment, by the military. Some bought their swords with their names on the blade etc. Wilkinson was widely copied by other 'makers'.

I think that 'Mounted' troops was issued with a saber type sword?

The swords ricasso was left blank by the maker so the retailer could add his name/address which in this case was not done.
Officers privately purchased their sword from a maker or retailer and sergeants were issued swords. A private purchase sword could be ordered with anything, price being the only limit.
Other makers made swords not to copy Wilkinson's as there are specific sword patterns to be adhered to. What may have been copied was particular ways of advertising.
Mounted cavalry troops carried trooper pattern swords and officers their private purchase counterpart which in many cases were the same pattern but with added decoration. Infantry etc. having mounted officers who would carry their respective officer pattern of sword, some found ordered with longer blades and a variety of variations too lengthy to go into detail here.
The "star" is actually two intertwined triangles symbolizing strength.