Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction Spring 2023
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/2/2023
The Ontario Provincial Police honored their 66th anniversary in 1975 with this magnificent limited edition commemorative sword by Wilkinson. The O.P.P. was founded in 1909 and in addition to its reputation as a formidable Canadian provincial police force, it grabbed some international pop culture notoriety in the 1960s when Paul McCartney wore an O.P.P. patch on his costume for the Beatles' photo shoot for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. This magnificent circa 1975 sword was available exclusively to members of the police force. It measures 33 ¾” overall, with a steel blade that measures 27 ¾” from the tip to the hilt. This sword has “1433” stamped on one edge of the blade just below the hilt, which displays a gold-colored Ontario Provincial Police badge on the front. The Wilkinson Sword Made in England stamp is on both sides of the blade below the hilt. The front side of the blade is engraved with a timeline history of the O.P.P. with “1925 First Marine Equipment,” “Larder Lake 1926,” “1941 1st O.P.P. Patrol Car,” “1954 Hurricane Hazel,” “1969 Winter Patrol,” and “1975 Scuba Team” specifically noted. The other side of the blade displays a timeline history of the head’s of the O.P.P., beginning with Superintendent Joseph E. Rogers in 1909 and through to Harold Hopkins Graham, who was appointed the O.P.P.’s commissioner in 1973. Displaying in excellent condition, there are some nicks and scuffs on the polished wood handle and light wear to the metal and affixed medallion as well that do not diminish this spectacular commemorative sword’s display.
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