walking stick / Patrick Pearse, 1916

Sword-stick which belonged to Commandant General Patrick Pearse. Blade of diamond section, 26'' long, with rough hued and gilt decoration towards the hilt, mounted in brown lacquered cane. The cane has a horn handle extending at right angles to its main axis and there is a silver band 1' wide at the junction of the horn handle and the cane. The silver band is decorated with repoussé scroll work and has a blank escutcheon in front. It bears the Birmingham hallmark for 1911-1912, with the maker's mark 'W.N.'. A length of 7¼' (including the horn handle) of the cane forms the grip of the sword, and the blade is fixed in it. The remaining part of the cane forms the scabbard. The two parts of the cane are held together by a button catch, and there is a white metal band at the junction; on this last is the mark 'SHW'. White metal ferrule, with steel base. This cane was given to Mr. Kilgallon by Mrs. Margaret Pearse after her son's execution.;