1854 - 1995

WILK A

Collection

A) Sword Records

1) One hundred and thirteen Proof Registers relating to swords manufactured by Wilkinson Sword from 1854 (blade no. 5000) to 1893 (blade no. 32528),

2) Twenty three Proof Registers relating to swords manufactured by Wilkinson Sword between 1893 and 1995

a) 32400 (21/11/1893) to 34170 (9/6/1896),
b) 34171 (9/6/2006) to 35930 (9/6/1898),
c) 35931 (9/6/1898) to 37701 (6/3/1900),
d) 37702 (7/3/1900) to 41000 (6/9/2006),
e) 41001 (6/9/2006) to 44300 (6/10/1913),
f) 44301 (7/10/1913) to 47600 (no end date). Detailed entries cease on 30/7/1914. Beyond this entries are in intermittent, and where entries are included these lack detail, including dates,
g) 47601 (no start date) to 50900 (no end date). Records incomplete, entries lack detail, including dates,
h) 50901 (11/1915) to 54200 (no end date). Records incomplete, entries lack detail,
i) 54201 (no start date) to 57500 (no end date),
j) 57501 (no start date) to 60800 (15/9/1926). Records incomplete, first listed date is 9/2/1924 (no. 58639),
k) 60801 (20/9/2006) to 64100 (1/9/1933) |b Dates listed in this volume are not always consecutive,
l) 64101 (28/7/1933) to 67400 (no end date),
m) 67401 (no start date) to 70700 (14/10/1952). First date listed is 21/7/1939 (no. 67419),
n) 70701 (8/10/1952) to 74000 (25/8/1954),
o) 74001 (12/10/1954) to 77300 (23/5/1956),
p) 77301 (14/8/1956) to 80600 (10/12/1958),
q) 80601 (27/5/1959) to 83900 (15/7/1962),
r) 83901 (12/6/1962) to 87200 (3/9/1964). Numbers 87201 to 87222 appear to have been unallocated,
s) 87223 (14/10/1964) to 90522 (no end date). Incomplete records, lacking detail. Last entry is at no. 90378 (undated); last dated entry is no. 90129 (December 1966),
t) 90523 (no start date) to 93822 (7/11/1968). Incomplete record, lacking detail. First entry is at no. 90541 (undated); first dated entry is at no. 90877 (23/10/1967); no entries beyond no. 93811,
u) 93823 (14/11/1968) to 97122 (23/3/1970),
v) 97123 (3/2/1970) to 11349 (17/12/1982),
w) 113500 (17/12/1982) to 124680 (January 1995). The cover of this volume is stamped '1113550 to 116499' but it actually runs to no. 124680. The proof records appear to end at this point, but the Sword Registers record sword numbers beyond this date

3) Seven Sword Registers, It appears that some of these records are missing from the archive, in particular, there are no registers relating to the 1920s, 1930s or 1940s. However, there is an Order Book which does provide some information from that period,

a) 52750 (25/8/1916) to 54053 (end date?). Last dated number is 53936 (June 1917). NB This volume contains a loose item in the form of part of a carbon duplicate book with no cover (pages numbered 1 to 17). On pages 1 to 15 are some registered sword numbers and dates, in non-consecutive order. Numbers are in the range of 87000 to 89999, though on page 13 is no. 75769. Dates relate to the 1960s,
b) 68879 (26/7/1950) to 73023 (March 1954),
c) 86346 (17/1/1964) to 101109 (6/11/1972). The last three pages contain some limited information on special edition swords,
d) 110382 (8/4/1980) to 119836 (14/3/1988),
e) 119837 (16/3/1988) to 125889 (17/6/1996),
f) 125890 (20/6/1996) to 132248 (16/6/2005),
g) 132249 (16/6/2005) to 132384 (13/9/2005),

4) Sword Rubbins Index. One volume. The cover of this volume is marked 'Books 3/5', however, there are no other items in the archive relating to sword rubbings

5) Six volumes containing records of 'Special Editions' of swords and knives

6) Records of 'Government Contracts' |b One volume. Including contracts for swords, scabbards, dirks etc covering the period 23 April 1937 to 14 October 1948

7) Invoice book containing a short unsigned treatise on the subject of 'The sword through the centuries'. One volume. Contained pages numbered 2201 to 2400, but pages 2201 to 2221 have been removed. Pages 2224 to 2259 contain the treatise. In addition, there are the following loose items contained in this volume.

8) 3 Loose sheets of sketches and notes.

9) 22 Exercise book pages (pinned together) on which is written an account of 'Early regulations, warrants and records',

B) Gun Records

1) Three volumes of 'Gun Barrel' books. These provide detailed listings of gun numbers, other gun details, names of craftsmen involved in their manufacture, purchasers etc,
a) 1808 to 1826. Details of guns numbered from 189 to 3612,
b) 1827 to 1877. Details of guns numbered from 4000 to 6681, although the first four pages of this volume also give further details of guns listed in volume one
c) 1877 to 1885. Details of guns numbered from 6701 yo 8010,

2) Two volumes of Gun Sales records. NB The records for 1894 to 1899 appear to be missing
a) 1885 to 1893. Details of guns numbered 8001 to 9000
b) 1900 to 1906. Details of guns numbered W51 to W1550

3) Three Firearms Registers
a) 1920 to 1923. Cover marked 'Register of Firearms'. Contains the following loose items
i) A handwritten list of official british military revolvers, 1856 to 1927
ii) Letter from New Scotland Yard to Wilkinson Sword concerning the purchase of firearms by Army officers, dated 14 September 1923
iii) Letter from New Scotland Yard to Wilkinson Sword concerning the purhcase of service pattern revolvers, dated 26 July 1922. Attached to the inside back cover
b) 1923 to 1966. Cover marked 'Register of Firearms'. Contains varous loose items of correspondence, including
i) Two notices from the Metropolitan Police concerning the Firearms Act 1937
ii) Copies of correspondence from the Home Office, dated 23 April 1937, and from the London Chamber of Commerce, dated 24 April 1937, concerning the Firearms Act 1937
iii) 1966 to 1980. Cover marked 'Firearms Register'. Contains a number of loose items, including correspondence, copies of order etc.

C) General Records

1) Three Order Books
a) 23 July 1909 to (end date?). Cover marked 'Gun Dept.'. Orders itemised on pages 3 to 157. Pages 158 to 424 are blank. Contains orders for a wide range of products, both guns and swords, but also razors and other shaving accessories, as well as general items (e.g. blankets, ground sheets etc)
b) 1 July 1912 to 3 December 1914. Cover marked 'Order Book'. Pages 1 to 99 contain orders mainly relating to razors and other shaving accessories
c) includes the period from 1910 to 19 March 1937. Contains the following sections: (1) pages 1 to 8, notes on specific orders from about 1910 to 1924, including the the Penang Police Sword (notes and drawing); (2) pages 9 to 39, miscellaneous repair from about 1910 to 1924; and (3) pages 41 to 157, miscellaneous general orders from 14 January 1935 to 19 March 1937.

2) Two Packing Books |b Contain detailed descriptions of goods packed for despatch
a) 18 June 1915 to 1 May 1947. Contains a number of loose items including
i) Notice concerning new export regulations from LEP Transport Limited
ii) Crown Agents Forwarding and Invoicing Instructions, dated November 1938

165 volumes, 3 documents

Open Access

The description was compiled by David Hesaldin