USN Sword?

[InfantryWeaponsOfficer]

Roger-

Respectfully, a cutlass is a different design, used by boarding parties, etc., but not a dress sword. The one in the OP is the current USN Officer's version, I'm almost sure. The cutlass is shorter and more curved. The hilt and guard are more crude, too.

The Mameluke design refers only to the hilt, the blade curve varying, although curved to one degree or the other. Basically, it is a scimitar but scimitars vary in curve and length.

I have a sword book by John Wilkinson-Latham and have another book on swords through the ages, and have examined a number of swords in collector-oriented gun shops. A high school friend had a M-1860 Light Cavalry Saber in his family, and I've handled the 1840 Heavy Cavalry version, too.

The sword that seemed most "me" is the British Infantry Officer's Model of 1897. The longer cavalry sword of 1908, copied by Patton, is too long to use well when unmounted.
Lt. Churchill mentioned the length of his cavalry sword when fighting unmounted in what is now Pakistan.

No worries. I was merely describing them visually, I will be more rigorous with my terminology in the future. I own an NCO "sabre" and an Officers Mamaluke "scimitar", both were manufactured by Weyersberg/Kirschbaum. One I purchased the other was a retirement gift. There is a significant difference in the curvature between the two. The Navy Officer swords I've seen all have nearly prefectly straight blades as do the Army NCO swords. That was my point.

 

[InfantryWeaponsOfficer]

Oh yeah. There should have been an olive in that belly button.

Oh, so now you tell me. I had a blindfold on at the time. I just thought it was an "outtie" or worse. I feel so much better now.

 

[Frank46]

Well at the time there was about 4500 sailors and officers on board. Probably would have caused a world wide shortage of olives. Did take about a few months for the hair to grow back after I had one of the ships barbers finish what one of the shellbacks did. Frank

 

[jlrhiner]

Well at the time there was about 4500 sailors and officers on board. Probably would have caused a world wide shortage of olives. Did take about a few months for the hair to grow back after I had one of the ships barbers finish what one of the shellbacks did. Frank

You know, there are a lot of olives in a 5 gallon jar!

 

[Fishslayer]

Damn slimey wogs.... = D

Fixed that. Pollywog slime is an affront to mighty King Neptune. All ships in his realm must be de infested of the nasty stuff.

 

[mcnee229]

According a poster at the sword forum, it was made by Ames for BB Abraham & Co to retail. Explains why I couldn't find anything about them making swords!

Olives in belly buttons, slimey wogs, shellbacks, sometimes I wonder about you Navy boys... ;-)

Scott

 

[jlrhiner]

According a poster at the sword forum, it was made by Ames for BB Abraham & Co to retail. Explains why I couldn't find anything about them making swords!

Olives in belly buttons, slimey wogs, shellbacks, sometimes I wonder about you Navy boys... ;-)

Scott

And you should.

I've once had one in my hands marked from a tailors shop. Glad they helped.

 

[Long Barrel]

A minor thing........

Marlowe White is a military tailor outside the gate at Ft Leavenworth. If you need Army uniforms and/or accessories (to include swords) , they are the best!

 

[Muley Gil]

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.

 

[Frank46]

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

 

[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.