Custom made ceremonial sword presented in the early 1980's to Darrell K. Royal (Oklahoma, Texas,1924-2012) by Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid (Saudi Arabia, b. 1939), the high karat gold sword scabbard body with finely carved foliated decoration including the crossed swords and palm tree, the emblem of Saudi Arabia, two decorative circular hooks with multi-strand strands joined by a Saudi Arabian one guinea coin, the sword blade very slightly curved with a wide fuller at both sides, marked at the spine "Made in England 1782", the guard made of gold with wire wrapping forward of the bone handle, the hilt with foliate carved gold end, a multi strand chain joined by a Saudi Arabian one guinea gold coin joins the hilt and guard,sword blade: 36"long, sheath with wood lining: 37.5"long, 821 grams, overall: 42.5"long, the case covered in blue and brown velvet with the gold Emblem of Saudi Arabia: 3.75"h, 43.5"long, 8"d, total weight of all: 12.25lbs; together with (1) a non-dated hand written letter on the stationery of Nasser I. Al-Rashid describing the general history of its' use; (1) copy of a letter on the stationery of The University of Texas at Austin, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center dated July 22, 1986 as a receipt for safe storage of the sword with a June 11, 2013 notation that it was returned to Mrs. Darrell Royal; (3) photos of Saudi Arabian dignitaries displaying similar swords at an apparent ceremony; (9) stickers and bags including depictions of swords and the Saudi Arabia emblem *Note: The Arabic inscription on the scabbard interpreted: "Made by Ahmad Bader Malika". Ahmad bin Ibrahim Badr (Makkah, Saudi Arabia, 1920-2009), is the chief artist who recast the golden door of the Kaaba. (Internet source: Wikipedia)* *Provenance: from the private collection of Coach Darrell K and Mrs. Edith Royal, former All American football player and “The Coachâ€, the winningest coach in the University of Texas Longhorns football history (1954-1976), Mrs. Edith Royal, The First Lady of Texas Football well known for her advocacy of drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Dr. Nasser I. Al-Rashid, Ph.D, University of Texas, Distinguished Graduate award from the College of Engineering in 1980, Order of the National Legion of Honor France, founder Rashid Engineering, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 1991 Distinguished Alumnus Award of the University of Texas, donor of the University of Texas, which has the Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Strength and Training Center named in his honor**