Anyone know where to get swords from?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: .
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyone know where to get swords from?
Dear all.
Just been asked to be best man for a mate at Lossie for his wedding in July. It's in uniform and he has asked me to sort out the swords for his guard. Anyone know who I talk to or where to go to sort it out?
Cheers!
FG
p.s. sorry it's not a rumour. I'll do some digging and see if I can come up with anything juicy for the future.
Just been asked to be best man for a mate at Lossie for his wedding in July. It's in uniform and he has asked me to sort out the swords for his guard. Anyone know who I talk to or where to go to sort it out?
Cheers!
FG
p.s. sorry it's not a rumour. I'll do some digging and see if I can come up with anything juicy for the future.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Germany
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Stations usually have a ceremonial supply, but dont know exactly how many they hold.
Unfortunately, STC is the only other place I know of to get the Swords from, as Innsworth did hold them until its demise....
Think you pay in the region of £20 Hire per sword, plus repair costs if you use them to open champagne bottles
Gloves and belts come included.
As an aside,its a great tragedy that the only place you can purchase NEW ceremonial swords from is from a place in germany. Wilkinsons stopped producing them 2 1/2 years ago
Unfortunately, STC is the only other place I know of to get the Swords from, as Innsworth did hold them until its demise....
Think you pay in the region of £20 Hire per sword, plus repair costs if you use them to open champagne bottles
Gloves and belts come included.As an aside,its a great tragedy that the only place you can purchase NEW ceremonial swords from is from a place in germany. Wilkinsons stopped producing them 2 1/2 years ago
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: London
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
VinRouge
That would indeed be a tragedy but, thankfully, Pooley Sword (a British company) now produces what were Wilkinson swords.
Robert Pooley who'd been commissioning swords from Wilkinson for 40 years, bought Wilkinson’s drawings, product records, spares and much of their tooling when they ceased production in 2005.
The blades are forged in India, using the Wilkinson drawings and tooling, by a family which has been making ceremonial swords for the several generations, and then etched and finished to Wilkinson's designs in England.
Pooley's RAF Officer's regulation sword was designed by Wilkinson,
and adopted by the Air Ministry in 1925.
I've seen some Pooley swords - they are magnificent.
More info, and pictures, on their website.
That would indeed be a tragedy but, thankfully, Pooley Sword (a British company) now produces what were Wilkinson swords.
Robert Pooley who'd been commissioning swords from Wilkinson for 40 years, bought Wilkinson’s drawings, product records, spares and much of their tooling when they ceased production in 2005.
The blades are forged in India, using the Wilkinson drawings and tooling, by a family which has been making ceremonial swords for the several generations, and then etched and finished to Wilkinson's designs in England.
Pooley's RAF Officer's regulation sword was designed by Wilkinson,
and adopted by the Air Ministry in 1925.
I've seen some Pooley swords - they are magnificent.
More info, and pictures, on their website.
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 18th Mar 2008 at 11:25.
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: ice station kilo
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Leuchars do have the swords for the Scottish stations but they are all centrally controlled by the stackers. The post was at Insworth but I guess its moved to Air now (or been gapped more like because the civiy didn’t want to move); ask your friendly SWO, on some stations he/she is the only one the stackers will accept applications from.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Why oh why would I wanna be anywhere else?
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
HQ STC (P1 - or whatever they call themselves nowadays) are the mob to contact. That's where I got mine from for my disastrous 2nd marriage.
During my time as a friendly, neighbourhood stacker, I received plenty of requests for swords, white belts, white gloves, ADCs bog chain thingys, officers greatcoats and suchlike. It was SOP, whether for official ceremonial or weddings, to request a loan of the required items from a central pool (IIRC controlled by the CHQ Suppliers but held at Uxbridge/Innsworth although these arrangements may have changed). Once the loan was approved it was the unit's responsibility to collect and return the items. As first port of call, I would suggest you try OC DSF at your local Supply Sqn (or their modern equivalents).
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Not the front line
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ring up the Officers' Mess at High Wycombe; the "sword custodian" works in an office there next to the mess manager and someone will be able to give you the right number for him.
He'll fax or post you a hire agreement sheet and details of the insurance etc, which you sign and post back to him with a cheque. He'll let you know where you can pick the swords up from; lots of places have public pools for parades etc, but you'll need the nearest non-public pool, which is almost certainly Leuchars.
When dropping them off, remember to try and take the Monday after the wedding off work, otherwise you'll find yourself wandering around Leuchars on a Sunday afternoon trying to find someone willing to take responsibility for 12 swords before returning them for you the day after!
He'll fax or post you a hire agreement sheet and details of the insurance etc, which you sign and post back to him with a cheque. He'll let you know where you can pick the swords up from; lots of places have public pools for parades etc, but you'll need the nearest non-public pool, which is almost certainly Leuchars.
When dropping them off, remember to try and take the Monday after the wedding off work, otherwise you'll find yourself wandering around Leuchars on a Sunday afternoon trying to find someone willing to take responsibility for 12 swords before returning them for you the day after!
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Midlands
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All changed, swords no longer held at High Wycombe (changed 2 weeks ago), that set are now at Halton. £30 per sword plus a deposit of £50 for the entire set you hire.
The other swords stres (Leuchars plus 1) are controlled through Halton
PM me for number at Halton or just ring Clothing Stores at Halton and ask for Helen.
The other swords stres (Leuchars plus 1) are controlled through Halton
PM me for number at Halton or just ring Clothing Stores at Halton and ask for Helen.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Mornington Crescent
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When dropping them off, remember to try and take the Monday after the wedding off work, otherwise you'll find yourself wandering around Leuchars on a Sunday afternoon trying to find someone willing to take responsibility for 12 swords before returning them for you the day after!
Or will you palm it off on a mate and run off with the new Missus Elmlea instead!
RAF Sword
Flying Lawyer
The illustration you have posted is actually a Rifle Regiment Sword.
The RAF pattern has a gold plated guard, eagle head pommel, white fish skin grip, and the scabbard is of polished black leather with gold plated mounts.
I agree that Pooleys have maintained the high standards of the old Wilkinson brand, but their website is in error with this example.
The illustration you have posted is actually a Rifle Regiment Sword.
The RAF pattern has a gold plated guard, eagle head pommel, white fish skin grip, and the scabbard is of polished black leather with gold plated mounts.
I agree that Pooleys have maintained the high standards of the old Wilkinson brand, but their website is in error with this example.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Somewhere flat
Age: 68
Posts: 5,566
Likes: 0
Received 45 Likes
on
30 Posts
Its probably easier to pop down to your local toy shop and buy a set of Star Wars light sabres. They may well lack the impact of Pooley's swords, but are a damn sight cheaper and it doesn't matter if you lose/break a couple.
The wedding photos will also be more interesting, although getting the future Mrs and bridesmaids to wear their hair in bunched plats will be quite tricky.
(Why not get some for the photos anyway).
The wedding photos will also be more interesting, although getting the future Mrs and bridesmaids to wear their hair in bunched plats will be quite tricky.
(Why not get some for the photos anyway).
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: London
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TT
Ah!
I didn't notice there's a difference between the thumbnail and the full picture to which it links.
I assume it's the website creator's error, because the description of the sword is correct.
I'll remove the picture from my previous post.
Ah!
I didn't notice there's a difference between the thumbnail and the full picture to which it links.
I assume it's the website creator's error, because the description of the sword is correct.
I'll remove the picture from my previous post.
RAF Sword
There was/is a firm in the West Midlands (World Wide Arms) that used to sell quite good RAF swords, made in India. Very few people in the RAF could spot the difference, and a few years ago, I was part of a Guard of Honour (alias the 'Sword Party') that clubbed together and bought one for the chap getting hitched - for about £150.
WP
WP
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: England
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wensleydale - I like your thinking.
The whole thing could be given a Star Wars theme, with Jedis (Guard of Honour) battling Jabba the Hutt (Mother-in-law) at the church gate.
Then all off down the pub in those whizzy jobs that pull your chariot along on bits of string.
Finally, to the best man:
Seek advice on the cool way to open a bottle of wine/champagne with a sword. It involves prior preparation etc etc, but deftly sliding your blade up the neck of a bottle of Bolly and the top breaking cleanly without covering all and sundry in fizz is what the frogs call 'de riguer'.
Saw a cavalry mate in full rig at a wedding in the 80s perform said trick.
With a twitch of his waxed 'tache, the bastard had the pick of the bridesmaids. Very Harry Flashman, but very impressive if done properly.
Or stick to the 80 bob, seeing as how it's Scotland. Your call, but enjoy the day.
The whole thing could be given a Star Wars theme, with Jedis (Guard of Honour) battling Jabba the Hutt (Mother-in-law) at the church gate.
Then all off down the pub in those whizzy jobs that pull your chariot along on bits of string.
Finally, to the best man:
Seek advice on the cool way to open a bottle of wine/champagne with a sword. It involves prior preparation etc etc, but deftly sliding your blade up the neck of a bottle of Bolly and the top breaking cleanly without covering all and sundry in fizz is what the frogs call 'de riguer'.
Saw a cavalry mate in full rig at a wedding in the 80s perform said trick.
With a twitch of his waxed 'tache, the bastard had the pick of the bridesmaids. Very Harry Flashman, but very impressive if done properly.
Or stick to the 80 bob, seeing as how it's Scotland. Your call, but enjoy the day.