RAF Officers Sword
 

I was thinking of buying an RAF officers sword for my nephew upon his graduation at 'cranditz'. I was wondering if there approved swords or suppliers.

I came across the following supplier in Canada, who seem much less expensive than others.

http://www.militaryheritage.com/roya...orce_sword.htm

Any thoughts?

£276.75 to buy and ship plus £38.97 VAT at todays exchange rate: £315.72 + exchange charges.

Seems pretty good to me. Should get change from £350.

Doesn't seem to include the knot but that is only c£20 from Mess Dress Ltd. looks like it is about £300 cheaper than in UK!

Have I got my figures wrong 149 CAD to GDP is 82 GDP, I must be wrong?

AH, a nice thought but would it be money well spent? A sword may be worn by the Sqn standard bearer and maybe a Service weddings. Other times it will just be extra baggage on postings.

Rather endorse PN's point of view, despite the blurb. Knights of the Air? Yer 'avin a larf, aintcher?

That's the shipping cost.

The sword is CAD 349 + 149 shipping = CAD 498 = £276

To that you have to add VAT plus the import handling fee

When I was in the militaria game I heard about this firm who were producing Royal Naval officers' swords at about one third of the cost of the normal Wilkinson item. Seemed great value until you saw one - they were C**P!

If you really do want to buy your nephew a sword (and I tend to go along with P & N on this) I think you may as well splash out on a good one, rather than an inferior product.

I remember thinking about buying myself a Breitling Navitimer when I was about to start nav school, but thought better of it and was mightily glad I did, as I would have looked a real poser sporting one of those as a student nav. I think owning your own sword falls into the same category.

I’ve worn a sword precisely twice and both of those times were for private weddings. Hire costs are a pittance from stores at Cranwell or Halton. Standard bearers and commanders at or above group captain rank are about the only people who would wear a sword any more than once in a blue moon; it would be an expensive encumbrance for a mobile young JO. Besides, looking back through the mists of time, graduating from IOT ranks low on the scale of career landmarks. A set of solid gold cuff links (monogrammed, and with a message and/or graduation date inside the box?) goes well with all dress uniforms and evening wear and might be a good alternative idea. A watch would be best given when he is on an aircraft or unit that has a special edition going, which also avoids the risk identified by TTN of being seen as a poser while under training. Just my opinion!

Nailed it. I was going to suggest opening up the question and ES has given a brilliant suggestion.

This assumes he is destined for pilot. Watch wise, a Breitling might be the bees knees (I wanted one 50 years ago) but they are bling and very expensive for some of the rough and tumble of training (no sniggering please). My favourite is a Citizen Titanium Skyhawk, not the radio or satellite models but the earlier model. Affordable, lighter weight, world time zones, a whiz wheel, no battery to change, and mine is more accurate than my radio model as the latter frequently does not get a signal.

Seiko has a similar no battery watch.

Service watches are good, but a battery will die at an awkward moment like OOA and getting them changed is a PITA.

Passing your first OCU is the biggest step as you finally leave the training machine. Actually you are not fully out of training until on the Sqn 6 months or so.

Check that he isn't getting one himself in the first place! The suppliers are invited in during your first few weeks and more than a few people buy their own by paying installments throughout their training.

If he gets a posting to MoD and decides to live in London he might need it.

Not sure what happens when you order direct from Canada for shipping to the UK, but just be aware that in Canada, the price you see on the tag is not the price you pay...you usually have to add the tax relevant to the Province.

I'd agree with the foregoing.
Only wore a sword at weddings and when practising to be coffin guard and they were supplied on loan by MoD Air.

There was one for sale on here in the last month or so, but I cannot find the link.

Not if it's being exported directly by the manufacturer.

Like the traditional British bayonet, it is always good to have something to fall back on.

Recollect colleague doing just that - well, actually, forward on, thereby becoming the proud owner of a handsome 'duelling scar' across the forehead :ok:

Just remembered a rather less amusing incident of a 'mock' sword fight in the OM which resulted in life-changing injury.

jolihokistix,

What kind of weddings do you go to!?

In 20 years service I flourished a sword only 3 times after training, all on parades, so I'd wholly endorse the cufflinks suggestion. The pair my parents gave me and which I wore on passing out parade at Cranwell are some of my most prized possessions and were/are worn very regularly in both RAF and civilian life. That said, when I retired from the Service my wife gave me a fabulous momento - a George V pattern RAF sword which hangs on my study wall and is a constant and very welcome reminder.