A Fine Military Officer's Basket-Hilted Backsword Of So-Called 'Pinch Of Snuff' Type Late 18th Century With tapering blade (some old staining) double-edged towards the point and with central fuller over its entire length over each side, a narrow fuller bordering it along the back, elaborate iron guard of slender bars framing open ovoidal panels filled by scrolled crosses between diamond-shaped panels, and with a ring beneath the pommel above, fore-guard of two broad bars, widely scrolled wrist-guard, compressed bun-shaped pommel with turned button, spirally-grooved fishskin-covered grip bound with three strands of silver wire between silver ferrules, and original buff-leather liner faced in red woollen cloth (old rust patination) 82 cm. blade Footnotes: A similar sword appears in 'The Pinch of Snuff', a painting attributed to William Delacour. The picture shows an officer, probably of the 78th or Fraser's Regiment (1757-6). Another is depicted being held by the Hon. William Gordon, painted by Pompeo Batoni in 1766, in the uniform of the 105th The Queen's Own Royal Regiment of Highlanders. See John Wallace, Scottish Swords and Dirks, 1970, p. 53, fig. 44 For a closely related example in the Royal Armouries, Leeds (inv. no. ix. 244) see Cyril Mazansky, British Basket-Hilted Swords, 2005, p. 174, G18j; and another sold in these Rooms, Antique Arms, Armour & Modern Sporting Guns, 10 November 2022, lot 35 This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * * VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing