Knight of Columbus

I

inconsiderable

Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Messages
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Hi there, I received a kofc sword for christmas, but I think it might be a replica. I read that other forum on kofc swords, but mine is a little different, I was wondering if anyone would mind helping me figure out if its real or not. Thanks
 
inconsiderable said:
Hi there, I received a kofc sword for christmas, but I think it might be a replica. I read that other forum on kofc swords, but mine is a little different, I was wondering if anyone would mind helping me figure out if its real or not. Thanks
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Welcome aboard

What other forum? Why did you not register and ask there?

Do you have any pictures of the item? http://tinypic.com/index.php is handy for sharing a few pictures but there are other ways to host photos to share. A better description might be helpful but pictures can tell a great deal. Are there any markings on the blade near the guard? Something like a retailer's name or maker's name? There are three or four variations and types of KOC swowrds and are still being made. While there are beginning to be reproductions/decoration level swords, they may be easily identified as being "new".

Cheers

GC
 
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Looks ok to me. The web site I am looking for seems to have been lost to the decade or so of traffic but The current fraternal sword bible lists this as fairly standard fare and a variety that would be later than 1921 or so. I have a good friend that has had swords identical to this that had come from his Boston area father. From the 1880s up to about 1910, the pommel was a flying eagle. Then the bust of Columbus between 1910 and about 1921 would face out to the side when carried. After that, the bust of Columbus faces forward.

The page I am looking for on the net described the very few manufacturers for the KOC swords. Some other oddballs exist but those three mentioned the most common. One other variety is a knight's helmet with a prone lion on top. The scabbard for yours (what I can see) matches one in the current Hamilton, MArino and Kaplan bible of fraternal swords and is labeled as marked by Gleason of Chicago. I'll keep looking for that other page because it showed the three basic forms quite well and doesn't need the seventy dollar book to confirm that. The black wood or "ebonized" composite material are both common to these.

They are a fine rpesent for decoration or family remembrance They make good decorators as well. There were ritual and parade drills for group use but were not meant as real weapons.

Cheers

GC
 
Wow, if you find that page I'd really appreciate it if you put it on here and thank you so much for helping me identify my sword. I really do appreciate it.
 
Here is the page ( I was thinking about it too hard).

http://www.socalfourthdegree.org/sword.htm

Note, the information I posted in a previous post should supersede the dating information on this webpage as outdated and a bit speculative. It is though a good line-up of those three types and describes some of the retailers/makers. Most certainly, the Ames Sword Co. imported (from Germany) and sold swords to many regalia retailers. While the current work assembled by Hamilton, Marino and Kaplan is not all inclusive of everything out there, Kaplan and Marino were/are two of the largest collectors and researchers of fraternal swords. mAybe not worth buying a copy for one sword and there are some other books out there about fraternal swords but this work mentioned is probably the most up to date.

Of course, a sit down with a local KoC chapter might prove both sources wrong, or one of them right but it can be a bit ambiguous. Just for a for instance, I have a flying eagle pommel sword that one young fellow exclaimed it to be a KoC sword but there were other fraternities that used a flying eagle. There is no doubt though about your sword.

If you can (or care to) carefully unscrew the top and gently pull it all apart, you may find a name or other markings under the guard projections or on the tang of the blade itself.

Cheers

GC
 
I misread the book text and description which would make your sword the middle pattern (facing forward, as you stand and look). It is the later pattern which has the face of Columbus opposite the person wearing the sword but forward if looking at the sword (now I am giddy ;) )

Here is another page on them

http://kofc4th.blogspot.com/p/sword.html

You can pretty much disregard most of my last post except the link :)

Cheers

GC
 
Thank you for the link, but I can't get the pommel to unscrew. The Columbus head is loose and will swirl around, but is tightest when face the outside of the sword.
 
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