Richard E. Schenk
Corporal
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2016
- Location
- Northern Virginia
The Marines adopted the Horstmann variant of the M1840 NCO sword with the turned down rear counterguard for musicians of the Corps on 15 October 1859. The standard blade length for the NCO sword was 31”, which was much too long for many of the boy musicians serving with the Corps, so the Marines directed a good number of these swords be made with shorter blades, i.e. 24”, 26” and 28”.
I am currently researching an article on the M1859 Marine musicians’ sword. Based on the numbers of the short-bladed musicians’ swords produced over the years prior to the introduction of the so-called M1875 musicians’ sword, the one with the initials “U.S.M.C.” etched on the blade, there should be a number of survivors of the old pattern with short blades. Although I have seen the latter M1875 version with a variety of different length blades, I have only seen 31” blades on the original pattern. If any forum members have examples of the original Horstmann M1840 NCO/M1859 Marine musicians sword with blades shorter than 31”, I would appreciate it if you could share the details. Thanks.
I am currently researching an article on the M1859 Marine musicians’ sword. Based on the numbers of the short-bladed musicians’ swords produced over the years prior to the introduction of the so-called M1875 musicians’ sword, the one with the initials “U.S.M.C.” etched on the blade, there should be a number of survivors of the old pattern with short blades. Although I have seen the latter M1875 version with a variety of different length blades, I have only seen 31” blades on the original pattern. If any forum members have examples of the original Horstmann M1840 NCO/M1859 Marine musicians sword with blades shorter than 31”, I would appreciate it if you could share the details. Thanks.