Wilkinson Swords for Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna

Miller Distributors Limited have presented a number of Wilkinson razor blades to Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna (FWA) employees at the breathtaking Fort Rinella in Kalkara.

Fort Rinella is home to the world's largest cannon - the Armstrong 100-ton gun. It was built by the British between 1878 and 1886 to counter a potential threat posed by the Italian navy's launching of a new breed of battleship.

FWA retains a large collection of historic edged weapons ranging from swords, daggers and bayonets to cutlasses. Among the best swords held in this collection are British army swords from the 19th and 20th centuries made by Wilkinson Sword Makers of Pall Mall, London.

Wilkinson Sword began in 1772 when Henry Nock, an acclaimed gun maker, set up the business.

In 1804 Wilkinson Sword were appointed Royal gun makers to King George III and James Wilkinson became Nock's partner after marrying his daughter.

On Nock's death in 1805, Wilkinson inherited the business. His son, Henry Wilkinson, subsequently moved the company to Pall Mall and extended the company's business from bayonet-making to sword manufacturing.

By 1879 the business had moved to bigger premises in Chelsea and became the privately owned company called The Wilkinson Sword Co. Ltd.

From the 1890s onwards, Wilkinson Sword steadily expanded its product range. By the turn of the century over 5,000 products were sold, from bayonets and swords to razors. And in 1898 the revolutionary Wilkinson Sword safety razor was introduced.