Product Details
JOUBERT & CIE, FRANCE
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE ROYAL WELSH FUSILIER'S WORLD WAR ONE TRENCH RAIDER'S SWORD; 'THE WELSH KNIFE',
circa 1916, with substantial leaf-shaped 17 1/2in. blade, approximately 3in. wide at its broadest, with carved central reinforcing rib flowing into the ricasso, one side stamped with a small 'JOUBERT & CIE' trademark, the other with a 'JO' monogram and inscribed 'DROS URDDAS CYMRU' (for the dignity of Wales), folding stepped circular iron cross-guard, rope-bound hilt, flattened oval integral pommel with skull-cracker spike and rope lanyard (some cleaning and frosting to blade); TOGETHER WITH its webbing bound leather scabbard with reinforced tip and leather belt-loop (belt loop broken through)
Other Notes: Perhaps the most terrifying close combat weapon ever to have been issued to British forces, this trench-sword or 'Welsh Knife' was exclusively carried by trench raiding parties of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and also by some of its machinegun units. Its design was based on an ancient Welsh Sword, and they were privately purchased and provided by Lord Howard de Walden, who sourced them both from local armouries (unmarked examples) or in France from Joubert & Cie as the example presented here. With the exception of the folding cross-guard and the pommel-plate, the whole sword was forged in one piece and used to extreme bloody effect especially during the Battle of Messines. Less than two dozen verified examples are known, with the majority being held by the Royal Welsh Fusiliers themselves. This example has been in the same family since issued.
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Estimate £1,000-1,500