A Couple Of Old Masonic Sabres

[horseclover]

They say modern Freemasonry first bloomed in the 18th century but others will show notes that the Templars never disappeared. I have actually spent a little bit of time with this and Edward III of England showed a great deal of tolerance when the Templars were being persecuted. Many only lost land and titles, while most in England were pretty much rolled into the Knights Hospilliter. Come Cromwell's time, there are some notes of Freemasonry. The guilds already intact from centuries before that, it is in the 18th century when the Royalty's under the House of Hanover then grant charters.

Some years ago, I almost bought what I figured was a very singular sabre with Freemasonry blue&gilt decoration. Filed away, after missing the sale, not forgotten but still a one off in my files. More than a decade later I came across images again and at first glance figured it was the same sword but behold, a twin! Having encountered two, I have to figure there are more.

I'd like to think they were English or Scottish customers but I just don't know. Anyway, two very nicely checkered ivory gripped 1796 types. No doubt fancy dress swords but fairly common as Napoleonic militia officers in England.

Anyway, a mess off photos, ten here and more with the shinier example.

 

[horseclover]

.......and


It was with great surprise when I came across this second sword more than a decade later.

 

[horseclover]

The remainder of the second sword photos


My fraternal sword files are not as expansive as are my primary interests but I browse so many listings that some end up on my drives. I think this is the first time I have posted the two together on a board but it was something that had just come to mind today in considering an earlier thread here this week regarding the Freemasons.

I do have a subfolder in my fraternal folder labeled skulls but not an example of the one in the other thread. I have a page I believe I pulled off of Germania's web pages many years ago and a document (never mind, that's the Seven Wise Men) I'll try to load here. Those probably need to be in that other thread but I'll plonk this German page in here while I'm at it.
It's a conspiracy, I tell you what............
Cheers
GC

 

[Mecha]

Are these sort of swords typically sharp and ready for action, or mainly as regalia?

 

[horseclover]

Some of the Blue&Gilt swords I encounter had been sharpened at some point. One of my decorated eagle pommel spadroons had been ground flat, either after a sharp service or to remove nicks. Some of my plain 18th century swords have been ground as sharp from the get go. My other b&g, and otherwise etched blades from 19th century are "factory" butter knife, ready for an edge.

It is written that some officers owned both dress and "undress" swords and that is more so in the British officer hierarchy perhaps than other countries but several had similar parallels. Field and "stepping out" swords.

Here my "factory" dull b&g Berger and a slightly tired etched sharp spadroon from about the same period, first quarter 19th century. On the b&g, there is gold on that section of the edge but the business end could be sharpened.


My Bolton eagle pommel spadroon that was once bright b&g that had been filed after the fact.


Cheers
GC

adding, in addendum, my plain bladed magic spadroons Icing Death and Twinkle are quite sharp

 

[Mecha]

Very cool.

 

[horseclover]

Re the two in the lead posts, you can see on the first example that it had been sharpened.

 

[Triton]

Ah hah. That skull and crossbones looks familiar!

 

[vish]

Wow, the carvings looks really amazing. I have seen similar kind of carvings in old Indonesian museum on the swords.