British Pattern 1827 Rifle Regiment Presentation Sword and Scabbard : Sergeant Major T Baynes, New South Wales Volunteer Rifles

British Pattern 1827 Rifle Regiment presentation sword and scabbard. The hilt is a steel gothic pattern guard with a cartouche badge of a crown over VR over a thistle, rose and shamrock. The grip is fishskin bound with silver wire and there is a white buff leather sword knot attached to the guard. The slightly curved blade is elaborately engraved with a floral design to within eight inches of the spear point. The centre panel on the right states PRESENTED TO SERGEANT MAJOR THOMAS BAYNES BY THE NEW SOUTH WALES VOLUNTEER RIFLES IN RECOGNITION OF THE VALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED BY HIM IN ORGANISING THAT CORPS February 1861 and a smaller panel five inches from the guard with TB. The left side centre panel has a crown over VR and NSWVRC with a bugle horn three inches from the guard. The ricasso is etched with HENRY WILKINSON PALL MALL LONDON and on the back edge MANUFACTURED FOR BRUSH AND MACDONNELL SYDNEY 11399. The black painted steel scabbard has two loose strap hanger rings at 1.5 and 10.5 inches from the nickel plated throat that is held to the body by two small screws.

Sergeant Major Baynes was seconded from the British 11th Regiment of Foot to organise and train the New South Wales Volunteer Rifles He was the first soldier to serve as a regular instructor of colonial troops paid by a colonial (NSW) government.