Silver hilted

[Richard G]

Could it be the date letter 'm', in which case where is the makers mark?
Best wishes
Richard

[urbanspaceman]

Quite right! Richard... thank-you.
The M is 1767. The crowned (lion?) is London. The far left is the lion passant for Sterling silver.
So, where is the makers mark... ? Exactly.
Further scrutiny may reveal something.
Here we go.

[urbanspaceman]

This on the blade forte:

[urbanspaceman]

I think the engraving above is purely decorative but I'm no expert.
I've scrutinised the hilt in strong light with assorted magnifying devices and all I've found is another Lion Passant on the neck of the pommel (top of the grip):


I've noticed that maker's mark stamps can be almost deliberately hidden (my William Kinman colichemarde for example is almost impossible to locate) so does anyone have any tips?
Surely the maker of this superb hilt would want his identity advertised.

[Jim McDougall]

Keith, do you have the Southwick book on London silver hilts?

[Richard G]

A maker's mark was compulsory and it really should be there with the other marks.
It could, of course, have been erased later, for some nefarious reason.
Best wishes
Richard

[urbanspaceman]

Now you mention it, there are two semi apertures each side of the quillon that I had noticed, inspected, but saw nothing. They may well have been the makers stamp but where and why have they gone?
Thanks Richard.