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Nation : American
Local Price : 515.00 USD

AMERICAN STATE MILITIA NCO’S SWORD. Probably Civil War. Plated hilt with plumed visored helmet form pommel and “bow tie” guard. Reeded bone grip. 25 7/8” blade of medially fullered double edged fighting form. Plated scabbard with deeply hand-chiseled figure of a semi nude “wild man” standing over a severed head, a saltire and four leaf clover. Well used with the plating well preserved throughout. Swords of this type were produced for state militias, which comprised most of the combatants during the Civil War. The use of plating was not accepted under Federal regulations, but was well established and used extensively in hand guns and other applications. The figures on the scabbard were engraved before plating and evidently custom to the order of the sword's owner. Federal policy was that officers purchased and owned their swords. Militia policies varied and in fact, this sword may have been owned by a commissioned officer. As militias were adequately armed, as least by the end of the Civil War, a pre war or Civil War date is almost certain. After the war, there was a glut of swords and little need to produce them. Worth some research.

Nation : American
Local Price : 510.00 USD

US 1840 PATTERN MUSICIAN'S SWORD. Standard pattern. See The American Sword, Peterson #44 with Ames Mfg Co Chicopee Mass maker's mark to the blade. Reverse with U S GWC (inspector George W Chaplin) 1864 to the blade. The Ames marks particularly well struck for that maker. Hilt with good patina. Blade smooth glossy patina and a few minor edge nicks. Musicians marched at the head of the attack and were recognized as a stabilizing and stimulating force. They were attacked to silence them and a few including Robert Henry Hendershot and John Clem became legends for their bravery on the battlefield. Union musicians were equipped with the 1840 pattern sword and no other weapon. From the famed American Sword Collection of Frank Barnyak.

Nation : British
Local Price : £365.00

Late-Victorian 1885 Pattern Cavalry Sword by WKC. EL7326 - A good 1885 pattern cavalry sword, made by WKC of Solingen in 1888. With numerous markings to decipher, it is in good condition and complete with unusual nickel plated scabbard.

Nation : British
Local Price : £360.00

Victorian 1885 Pattern Cavalry Sword by WKC. EL7321 - A good 1885 pattern cavalry sword made by WKC in Solingen in 1887 and with numerous stamps which tell the story of its subsequent service life. Complete in scabbard, which carries a lot of dents from stirrups and steps!

Nation : Swiss
Local Price : £360.00

Swiss M1914 Schmidt-Rubin Sawback Bayonet, Early Leather Scabbard. Straight spear pointed blade with sawback, swell point and false edge, with single fuller on one side, the other side completely flat. Steel hilt with upper muzzle ring and lower lobe quillon, beaked steel pommel with locking button. Wood slab grips secured by two steel rivets. Brown leather scabbard with steel throat and chape pieces, the throat piece with frog loop with attached leather strap, the chape piece with ball finial. Brown leather frog. The blade is stamped at the ricasso with the manufacturer ‘Waffenfabrik Neuhausen’, and on the hilt with the serial number ‘90143’. The lobe quillon is stamped with a Swiss cross and circle. The scabbard finial is stamped with a Swiss cross. The reverse of the frog is stamped with the rubbed mak ‘_Schuss_’ as well as ‘H Berger Sellerie’, a leather goods manufacturer in Prez-vers-Noréaz, a rubbed number ‘_2’, probably the manufacture date, as well as a cartouche (there should be a letter and Swiss cross within this, but these have rubbed). Offically called the Sägebajonett Mod. 1914 (Sawing Bayonet Model of 1914), the M1914 bayonet for the Schmidt-Rubin rifle was based upon the earlier M1878 and M1881 bayonets for the Vetterli rifle, with a similar sawback blade combined with the hilt design from the M1889 Schmidt-Rubin bayonet. The blade is unusual in that it is flat on one side and with a ground edge on the other. It has a ‘sawback’, saw teeth cut into the spine of the blade intended to make it useful for field work like cutting brush. The M1914 was only issued to certain troops such as transport NCOs, artillery drivers and engineers, while most troops carried a shorter knife blade without the sawback. It was used with the M1911 carbine and M1931 (K31) short rifle. This example has the earlier leather scabbard, its design also inherited from the Vetterli bayonets. These scabbards were produced for the M1914 until 1938, when an all-steel scabbard was introduced, which would have been more durable and weather resistant. The leather scabbards were replaced with steel as they wore out, making the leather version uncommon today. The blade is bright overall, some tiny spots of pitting at the tip and light patination in places, the expected rubbing marks from sheathing and drawing on the flat side. Residue suggests the saw has seen use but there are no broken or damaged teeth. The wood grips have some light dents and scratches. Some spots of wear to the plating at the pommel, exposing patinated steel. Scuffing and scratching to the scabbard leather, and a bend mark at the midsection. All the scabbard’s stitching is intact. Some very small dents and light scratching to the chape piece. The leather frog is flexible with some rubbing to the reverse surface, small losses to the stitching around the belt loop’s cutout. Its steel rivets and buckle are bright.

Nation : German
Local Price : £360.00

Japanese Army Artilleryman’s Short Sword, Second Model, c1886. Straight spear pointed blade with fuller on one side only, the other side flat. Steel crossbar hilt with forward-curving quillons each side, two-piece wood slab grips secured by two steel rivets, steel oval ball pommel. The blade is stamped at the ricasso with two Japanese characters. In 1884 the Imperial Japanese Army directed that rifles were to be withdrawn from Japanese artillerymen and in future short swords were to be issued to them instead. A commission was to be set up to review existing European designs for such swords and produce a new design based upon them, with stocks of Enfield rifle bayonets issued temporarily while this was carried out. This was characteristic of the Meiji period in which Japan deliberately absorbed Western ideas on military organization and equipment, seeking to achieve parity in technology and tactics. Multiple models of short sword emerged from this process – the version which was probably the first to be introduced (Kō) is referred to in sources as 砲兵刀 (Artillery Sword). It had a cast brass hilt and grip, and a black leather scabbard with brass throat and chape pieces, showing clear influence from the German faschinenmesser sidearms of the 19 th century, particularly the M1852. The machine-made blade fullered only on one side is also very European, reminding me of the Vetterli bayonet, Saxon artillery sidearms or various Austrian models. This is the second version (Otsu), probably introduced in 1886. It used the same blade but generally deviated from the German style, replacing the grip with wood and all other brass parts with steel. This would have been lighter and the simple steel ball pommel may have been intended to substitute for a hammer. Some sources suggest this type was initially introduced for the use of military police, referring to it as 憲兵刀 (MP Sword), but it does not appear to have been issued in this role and was probably also given to artillery in practice. A third type (Hei) exists with a smooth, non-riveted wood grip and brass parts, called 徒歩刀 (literally ‘Walker sword’), introduced in 1890. The various short swords were ultimately replaced in 1898 with the Type 30 Arisaka bayonet, this being substantial enough to do the same work and considerably simplifying supply. Some light patination to the blade overall, with a few darker spots. The hilt and pommel were originally painted black and much of this is still present, with some wear exposing patinated steel. Some dents and light handling wear to the wood grip. The pommel can rotate slightly in place, although the grip is solid in the hand. The seam of the scabbard has opened slightly in one section towards the chape. The scabbard fittings are darkly patinated with some scratching.

Nation : British
Local Price : £360.00

British Mark I 1856 Pattern Drummer’s or Bugler's Sword of the 1st Midlothian (Leith) Rifle Volunteers Band, by Mole. Straight unfullered double-edged spear-pointed blade with diamond cross-section, nickel-plated brass hilt with central VR cypher of Queen Victoria, triangular langets and trefoil finials. Brown leather washer. Longitudinally ribbed brass grip, flared pommel. Black leather scabbard with plated brass fittings at throat and chape, the throat piece with teardrop-shaped frog stud bearing incised decoration. The blade is etched on one side with ‘MIDLOTHIAN RIFLE VOLUNTEERS BAND’, above which is a bugle emblem, enclosing the text ‘1 st ’, all this within a cartouche. It is etched on the other side with the maker’s mark ‘ROBT MOLE & SONS’ also within a cartouche, indicating the maker Robert Mole & Sons. The side of the grip is engraved with ‘1 M L 21’. The throat piece of the scabbard is similarly engraved with ‘1 M L 5’. 21 and 5 are probably rack numbers, and suggest that the scabbard was swapped with at one point, perhaps while in regimental stores. The throat piece of the scabbard is stamped on one side with the maker’s mark ‘MOLE’. The 1st Midlothian Rifle Volunteers was formed in Leith in 1859, one of a large number of volunteer units which sprang up during the late 1850s due to a perceived threat of invasion of Britain by France. Its initial four companies grew to eight by 1861. It absorbed the 4th Mid-Lothian (Corstorphine) Rifle Volunteer Corps in 1863, adding another three companies. Its size peaked in 1868 with 12 companies, the Band being one. In the Childers Reforms of 1881 militia and volunteer units were amalgamated with the regulars into larger regiments, so the 1 st Midlothian became the 3 rd Volunteer Battalion, Royal Scots. It was reduced to 10 companies in 1884. Another reorganization in 1888 bumped it down to the 5 th Battalion, Royal Scots. In the Boer War it provided 196 volunteers who served with the Royal Scots, earning the battalion its sole battle honour South Africa 1900-02. In 1908 the Haldane Reforms made all Volunteers part of the Territorial Force and it became the 7th Battalion, The Royal Scots. It mustered for WW1 as the 1/7 th Battalion. Its A and D Companies suffered heavy casualties before leaving the country, when the troop train carrying them from Larbert to Liverpool collided with a local passenger train at Quintishill near Gretna Green. It remains the worst rail disaster in British history, the military estimating 214 deaths and 191 injured, with additional civilian deaths bringing the count to around 226, the severity of the disaster and the loss of the unit’s muster roll leading to some uncertainty. Of the 58 survivors who made roll call, only six officers were deemed fit for service, including the regiment’s Lt Col W. Carmichael Peebles. These joined the other battalions at Liverpool and sailed to Cape Helles, Gallipoli, arriving in June 1915 whereafter it fought at Gully Ravine, Achi Baba Nullah and Krithia Nullahs. The 1/7 th was evacuated in January 1916 and transferred to Egypt, fighting in numerous engagements around the Suez Canal and in the advance through Palestine. After the Ottoman surrender it was transferred to France in 1918. Afte WW1 the battalion was reconstituted in the Territorial Army. It fought in WW2 as the 7 th /9 th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots. Its lineage is today maintained by A (Royal Scots Borderers) Company, 52nd Lowland, 6 th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland. These ornamental short swords were issued to drummers and buglers of infantry regiments, the distinction being that the drummer’s version was issued with a brass hilt and the scarcer bugler’s model with an iron hilt. While the pattern was ordered to be adopted in 1856, there is evidence that similar-looking swords were being carried by musicians in some units as early as 1843, and some units did not actually adopt the new pattern until years after its introduction. This example is unusual in having been nickel plated. The plating is of excellent quality and is I believe period. This may have been done to ‘convert’ a drummer’s sword into a bugler’s version by giving it a finish more like polished iron (and without the need for ongoing polishing to keep it bright), or it may have still been for a drummer but altered for taste. Rifle volunteer regiments were sometimes known to adopt non-regulation uniform standards purely for aesthetics: officer’s swords painted black or deeply blued are a common one. A degree of latitude was permitted for volunteers, and military bands in general were also less scrupulously held to regulations. If the Midlothians decided that plated swords would look better with their uniform than brass and make their bandsmen stand out, they could have had the work done privately. The blade has light speckled patination. Some rubbing to the etching, leaving the maker’s mark in particular faint. No damage to the edge, which is unsharpened on both sides. One repair to the blade at the midsection on one side. The nickel plating of the brass parts is excellent, bright and clean with only one tiny area of wear at the base of a quillon on one side, the revealed brass with verdigris. Light The leather of the scabbard has some surface-level cracking and small areas of flaking in places, its stitching is all intact. The chape piece of the scabbard is missing its staple but seems firmly attached regardless. The hilt and grip appear to have been repeened, consistent with the sword having been taken apart for chrome plating. This has not had any adverse effect - the blade is rock solid and rings when tapped.

Nation : British
Local Price : £360.00

British Indian Army 1898 Pattern Infantry Staff Sergeant’s Sword, Dated 1910 with Regimental Marking. Single-fullered straight blade with spear point, steel hilt with pierced decoration including crown and imperial cypher of King and Emperor Edward VII as used in India: ‘ERI’ (Edwardus Rex Imperator). Steel backstrap with chequered thumb rest and integral pommel, grey shagreen grip bound with wire. Brown leather washer topped with second steel washer. Brown leather field scabbard in the Indian style with steel throat and chape pieces, leather ridge near the throat for hanging from a belt or cummerbund in the manner of a tulwar. Blade just under 32½ inches in length (fractional tip wear), the sword 38 7/8 inches overall. The blade is stamped at the ricasso on one side with a broad arrow over ‘I’ and ‘ISD’, indicating ownership by the Indian Stores Department. The other side of the blade is stamped with another broad arrow over ‘I’ and ‘04’. The inside of the hilt is stamped near the edge with ‘F E’ over ‘7.10’. The format and placement suggests this is a unit mark and issue date, i.e. that the sword was issued in July 1910 to the unit abbreviated to ‘F.E.’ I do not know which unit this refers to within the Indian Army at the time, however. The metal washer is also similarly stamped on one side next to the base of the blade with ‘F.E.’ above ’10.10’, again suggesting an issue date of 1910. The washer is also stamped on the opposite side of the blade, this mark is faint and a double strike. I can make out the number ‘10’. British Army sergeants continued to carry swords as a sign of rank even after they were withdrawn from the basic infantryman. Unlike officers, who purchased and owned their own swords, sergeants were issued their swords from regimental stores like a musket or bayonet, and the swords remained government property. Regiments only needed a small stock of sergeants’ swords and would only have disposed of them when obsolete or broken, so the sergeant’s models are rarer than the officer’s today. The same dress and armoury standards prevailed in the Indian Army during the period of British rule: staff sergeants and senior NCOs like Company Havildar Majors (the Indian equivalent of Company Sergeant Majors) were authorized to carry Sergeant’s pattern swords. After India gained its independence, the Indian Army reduced sword carriage to officers only. Regarded by some as an unwanted colonial tradition, their carriage is today limited to designated parade leaders and contingent commanders during major national events. A new design of infantry officer’s sword was finalised in 1897, and a near-identical version was introduced for sergeants in the same year, the 1897 Pattern. The blade of this version was criticised as being too light and not stiff enough, and was quickly replaced by this, the 1898 Pattern, a slightly beefier version. The blade has a few small patches of light patination, a couple of small patches of cleaned pitting at its edges in the fullered section, and old polishing marks. Its tip has been sharpened with some visible grinding marks on the edges and a couple of small nicks to the true edge. The point is slightly worn, only by about 1mm, and is very fractionally bent to one side distally. The outside of the guard has some light patination, spots of light cleaned pitting and some polishing marks. The inside of the guard has spotted moderate patination and moderate cleaned pitting. The wire binding of the grip is all present and tight, the shagreen of the grip has light handling wear and some scale loss at its edges next to the backstrap and ferrule. The sword Is solidly peened with no movement to any parts, the blade rings when struck. The leather of the scabbard has some surface denting, flaking and abrasion, a couple of lost patches near the throat piece on the seam side exposing the wood core and the ring of leather inserted under the surface to form the hanging ridge.