Hello!
I have been asked to lead our Wing’s New Armed Guard as OC of the flight.
I therefore am going to buy a sword (I just won a cheeky £500 on the premium bonds, so I thought I’d treat myself).
Has anyone here bought a sword from MessDress.com ?
They are the cheapest new ones by far, but I don’t want to buy them if they are of poor quality.
Any feedback would be highly valued.
Thanks!
Cant vouch for their swords. But back in the day they were my goto tailor when they did that.
Alright for some! I’ve never seen more than £200!
I have no clue about swords…
Your what now? Never heard of a Wing forming such a thing before. I have a couple of swords, a nice P08 with leather service covers and a very nice dress P08, both inherited.
if you’re going to get something like that I’d go for the real thing — Pooley?
Surely carrying a sword in a public place is illegal as it it a bladed implement more than 4 inches long. Asking for a friend……
I’m sure one of our legal eagles will be able to quote chapter and verse, but as far as I’m aware it’s only illegal without due cause and so it all comes down to context (otherwise many farm tools would be illegal).
The caveat is that ”without legitimate reason or reasonable excuse”
Wearing uniform whilst carrying the sword is reasonable, if not you need to transport it in a “sock”.
There is an exemption for folding pocket knives but the blade must be less than three inches & it must not be either opened with a spring action or lock into place.
I find the lock into place a bit odd as you can have a fixed knife, a folding knife but if you blade locks into place to stop it folding back on your fingers then it is deemed not to be legal.
This. When did my Buck knife become illegal? And the knives on Gerbers and Leathermans?
From what I can google - 1988
These have been declared through case law as not being classed as folding knives.
what it means in practice is that if you are found with one in your possession, the onus is on yourself to prove that you had a reasonable excuse/lawful reason for having it. One of the few “guilty unless proven innocent” situations.
Moving back to swords there is specific legislation aimed at “ninja swords” that makes their possession in private illegal - the main thing being around the curvature.
Whilst this doesn’t effect the RAF sword, it might impact certain army regiments & some cutlasses (I think cutlass drill is an approved RAFAc activity as well)
Out of curiosity Do Sea Cadet WOs & CPOs get cutlasses?
I am curious - why does your wing commander now need an Armed Guard?
Yeah, who’d they really upset? 
Do you not need the Freedom or somesuch to bear arms (“with swords drawn etc”) in a public place eg a street? Noticed on a number of Remembrance Day Parade videos on FB quite a few SCC staff doing so, or have I got the wrong end of the stick (no pun intended)?
Officially, you should have completed sword drill by a sword drill instructor. You can draw sword (pardon the pun) from RAF Halton or Cranwell but you will need to pay to use them.
There are a couple of places that do swords:
A couple of them do do a payment scheme rather than stumping up all in one go, just remember you’ll need the belt and knot as well. It’s also worth having belt hooks put on your No1s otherwise the sword will drag the belt down when hooked up.
based on my experience of OC Wings take your pick, sooner or later, it becomes most of the Wing!
Try these guys.
Theoretically, if one was buying a sword as a gift for a retiring Wg Cdr, what would the “full package” include? I don’t need to do worry about the belt hooks on their uniform, but I assume the sword, scabbard, belt, knot, and a presentation case or mount?
If mostly for display, I’d drop the belt and save a bit of money, especially if providing a presentation case.