Hello Kevin
Did you really mean that the cypher is that of William IV? It looks far more like that for George IV to me. William IV cyphers usually have a far more distinctive 'W' in them whereas the one on this sword seems to have 'GR' reversed and entwined.
The date of the sword 1823 would be right for George IV (1820-1830) but too early for William IV (1830-1837), although it is not unknown for swords to be re-hilted.
Roger
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