USN Sword?

[Texas Star]

I took a few pictures of the swords I own.

The top sword is a copy of the British General Officer's sword . It is similar the USMC Officer's sabre and I bought it for civil war reenactments. The bottom sword is a current Toledo made USMC Officer's sabre.

The USMC marking is found on the original 1859 pattern USMC Officer's sword (shown below with the Mameluke pattern). According to the collector who sold it to me, it was probably produced in 1859 or 1860, due to the width of the blade. As the Civil War went on, the sword blades became narrower.

These two are reproductions. The top one is a CSA NCO sword and was used by the infantry and artillery. The bottom one is an 1860 cavalry saber.

This is the marking found on the current USMC Officer's sabre.

The top blade is a copy of the 1860 USN cutlass. The middle one is the original 1859 Marine sword and the bottom one is the current USMC sabre.

This picture show the scabbard and its belt loop for the cutlass.

Thanks. These are the swords that I tried to describe above.

 

[jlrhiner]

Oilves in 5 gallon cans??. Sir you must be jesting. I spent most of my hitch at sea and didn't even see so much as a pickle let alone olives. Frank

Sorry Frank, I do not jest about olives in belly buttons.

 

[David LaPell]

The USS Vestal was in service from 1909 as a Collier to 1946 as a repair ship. It was alongside the Arizona on December 7th and took a bomb from a Japanese plane.

 

[Muley Gil]

Texas Star,

I checked the markings on the British sword and on one side was "440 Stainless China" and on the other was "By Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Sword Cutlers, Wilkinson Sword, Made in England"

 

[Gryff]

This reminds me that I need to start researching the purchase of a sword for my son (USNA '15).

 

[Muley Gil]

This reminds me that I need to start researching the purchase of a sword for my son (USNA '15).

If I were to buy an officer's sword these days, I'd look at the ones offered by Cold Steel. They say theirs can actually function as weapons, rather than pure ornaments. And they are approved by the armed forces as well.

Is he going Navy or Marines?

 

[Gryff]

Is he going Navy or Marines?

The kid is all about engineering, so he wants a Naval commission and an assignment in the sub fleet.

 

[Texas Star]

Texas Star,

I checked the markings on the British sword and on one side was "440 Stainless China" and on the other was "By Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Sword Cutlers, Wilkinson Sword, Made in England"

That's appalling! Maybe they're now importing the blades and hilting them in the UK?

The several Wilkinson products that I've handled seemed to be made entirely in Sheffield.

 

[Warstone]

That's appalling! Maybe they're now importing the blades and hilting them in the UK?

The several Wilkinson products that I've handled seemed to be made entirely in Sheffield.

Wilkinson aren't importing anything and hilting them. They ceased manufacturing years ago. It's more likely to be a fake.

 

[Texas Star]

Wilkinson aren't importing anything and hilting them. They ceased manufacturing years ago. It's more likely to be a fake.

I agree. Even the blade looks too flat and crude to be authorized by Wilkinson.

I've been thinking about this, and suspect that you hit the nail on the head.

Can anyone post a real Wilkinson General's sword? Or any of their swords? I have John Wilkinson-Latham's sword book, but the photos are pretty small.

Somewhere on the Net, there's a sharp pic of a Royal Navy Lt. drawimg her sword. I handled the 1897 Infantry Officer's Sword and the 1908 Cavalry pattern in a store when they were still offered and liked them.

I think the special patterns used by the Household Cavalry are originals dating back to WW I or thereabouts. They just maintain them, like the fancy breastplates and shiny plumed helmets.