Help appreciated identifying a sword

S

sgupta

Joined
Mar 31, 2008
Messages
7
Hey all!

I actually do computer work for a living so am a bit out of my element. But a client of mine would like a sword identified, and I thought I'd give it a go.

The sword itself has an 18 1/16" inch blade, a total length of 24", a width of 1 7/8" (blade), and a hilt width at its widest point of 3 9/16".

The blade is silver in color, and the hilt looks to be gold. The hilt is worn and appears to have two letters engraved on both sides of it right before the blade - unfortunately, they're quite worn so it's hard to make out - looks a bit like C.J to me.

I have a couple pics of it but they aren't great pics - I'm working on getting some better ones from her.

Any help would definitely be appreciated!

Sword1.jpg

Sword2.jpg

Sword3.jpg
 
Wish I could help...

Perhaps this is a better question for bladeforum's Sword Discussion sub-forum...

Ray :)
 
That's an interesting blade. I'm not familiar with any other swords similar enough to that one to help any.
 
It vaguely resembles an artillery sword of some kind, but the "gilding" of the hilt is odd, and the form not like the more common examples I've seen. Perhaps it is a masonic piece? I know that several brotherhoods use swords of this style.
 
Thanks much for the feedback so far - more of course helpful and appreciated. =o) At least this gives some ideas. Hopefully eventually I'll have some better pics to provide too.
 
Oh? Can you give any more detail Redleg? How can you tell it's a recent [timeframe?] replica? Worth anything nonetheless? Thanks.
 
The style is based on the Roman Gladius. This pattern has been used by a number of countries including the USA and France as an officers sidearm. The hilt is usually brass, but nice clean and crisp through good casting and finishing. The blade is carbon steel. Sorry to say, yours seems a rather poor quality imitation as evidenced by the bad casting of the hilt.

The US version is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_1832_Foot_Artillery_Sword

800px-104_3612.JPG


The French version is here http://arms2armor.com/Swords/fren1831.htm

and here http://www.liongate-armsandarmour.com/bq344.htm

bq344-1.jpg
 
Thanks for the great information! =o) [Other replies of course still welcome.]

Hmmm...maybe it is brass instead of gold. I was under the impression the hilt was gold and simply worn, but maybe that's not the case. [As I said, trying to identify for someone - not in possession of the actual item to say.]
 
Also "worn" gold wouldn't look any different from polished gold--gold does not tarnish. ;-)
 
This isn't tarnished as far as I remember (I did see it in person briefly), though as I recall the blade has some spots on it.
 
The piece in question is a poor representation of a fairly uncommon ACW Confederate states foot artillery sword. Here is the likely modern reproduction of this type. Retail $129.

3632269.jpeg

photo gleeped from Legendary Arms

Here are some photos of an original. This pattern is thought to have been made by W.J. McElroy in Macon Georgia. I have seen perhaps a dozen lisitngs on the web over the years that were likely true originals and some of those listings were of the same piece changing hands.

486-24a.JPEG

486-24b.JPEG

486-24c.JPEG

486-24d.JPEG

photos gleeped from Horse Soldier

If one spends some time on import/export sites like Indiamart, you can find the sources for some of this stuff. Misrepresentation of these reproductions does occur but this one isn't going to fool any serious student or collector of 19th century swords.


Gold does get dirty and gold alloys don't always sparkle.
aayat5.jpg


Cheers

GC

someone else here masquerades as Hotspur but this really is me
 
Wow - great! Thanks a lot - that's definitely what it is and a lot of great information. At least I know now to pass it along to my client. Thanks again for the great feedback. =o)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top