Two pieces of documentation are included with this lot; the first, a letter from Wilkinson Sword, includes information on both the sword and revolver, and the second, a letter from the National Army Museum in Chelsea, goes into more depth on the sword's owner. While not a firearm maker, Wilkinson Sword sold a wide variety of kits to Britain's officer corps, including purpose-ordered revolvers from Webley & Scott manufactured and marked to Wilkinson's specifications. Fitted with a dovetailed blade front sight and a latch notch rear sight, the one-line Pall Mall address is present on the barrel rib, with "HW" in a six-pointed star on the left side along with a "455/476" caliber marking and a series of London proofs on the matching numbered cylinder. Fitted with a checkered one-piece grip with a blank silver inscription panel on the rear and the "W588" inventory number on the left side. Included with the revolver is a brown leather case with the Wilkinson tag on the maroon felt interior and "H.J.B.WHITEHEAD/7th HUSSARS." on the lid; the Wilkinson letter verifies this revolver by grip number as sold to Whitehead on 15 March 1901. Veterans of Waterloo and the Indian Mutiny, the 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars were in South Africa during this time period, later fighting the Ottomans in World War I and retraining as an armored unit for World War II. Army records show Whitehead as participating in operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and the Cape Colony as a 2nd Lieutenant, becoming a full Lieutenant in 1903 and being seconded to the Indian Army in the same year. Though not verified this may have been his service revolver in South Africa and India. The sword is a fine Scottish-pattern basket hilt claymore, 38 inches overall with a 32 inch straight triple-fuller blade etched to the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, a felt-lined steel hilt with wire-wrapped sharkskin grip and maroon tassels and a nickel finished sheath. The Wilkinson letter verifies the sword as purchased 15 February 1881 by T. Irvine, Esquire, and the Army Museum identifies Thomas Irvine as commissioned a Second Lieutenant with the 93rd Sutherland 22 January of the same year. Irvine's career would take him to the rank of Major in 1899, ending with his death of unspecified causes on 8 March 1908 in Chatham, England. Amalgamated with the Argyll Highlanders the same year of Irvine's entry, the 93rd (as the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders) would see combat in the Second Boer War before Irvine's passing, during which he may have carried this sword.

The revolver is fine, with over 60% of the bright original high polish blue finish, showing areas of brown and gray patina, bright edge wear and scattered spotting and handling marks. The grip is good with some cracking at the top of the right side and a number of mild dings. The case is also fine with mild scuffs and stains. Mechanically excellent. The sword is very good with some mild spotting and handling marks on the metal, light wear and fraying of the lining and tassel and a few scuffs on the blade. The "PROVED" seal has become lost from the ricasso. A fine pair of British officer's sidearms which may have seen combat use in foreign lands.