caption: The Victorian period saw maritime technology shift from the age of sail to the age of steam, with the passing of the former bringing a tear to the eyes of the old salts. This time also saw much experimentation in naval design with some of the largest sailing ships ever built taking to the high seas; and others using both sail and screw systems in the same hull. Thanks to the dominance of the Royal Navy, international sea lanes were cleared for the first time in history, global trade flourished and goods were transported around the world at speeds never before realised. Its amazing to think that this sword, made by the esteemed <PERSON> of London, was carried by a Royal Navy officer in the late 1840s and would have witnessed many of these events.