Scottish Officer’s Dress Broadsword with Unusual Half-Basket Guard

This is a very handsome and interesting sword that measures 36 1/2" overall, with a 30 3/4" straight, double-edged blade with narrow double fullers and etched panels on both faces.  The blade has not been polishes, and has an overall pewter gray patina with spots of dark freckling scattered throughout, as well as a few very shallow dents along the edges.  Both sides of the blade are etched with decorative panels that have intricate floral scrollwork accents and central Scottish thistle motifs.  There is a maker marking on the long ricasso: "PILLIN / Maker / GERARD ST. / LONDON."  The hilt has a single straight quillon with cylindrical finial, grooved ferrule, a lightly worn shagreen grip with intact braided wire wrap, and dome-shaped pommel and exposed capstan rivet.  The brass half-basket hilt was built to allow the sword to rest flush to the wearer’s hip and does not project past the grip on the obverse side.  The well worn felt and suede liner is still present, and the two looping metal branches at the crossguard are still present, but one has detached from the knucklebow.  The sword is housed in steel scabbard with two hanger rings.  The scabbard is not dented, and has some spots of mild freckling along its length.  This is a handsome Scottish broadsword, with a very unusual variant basket guard, and would make a terrific sword for display.