Markings on Swords.

[Waterloo50]

Great thread, intresting subject, awesome pictures.

 

[Blessmag]

Musicians sword: So that's where the phrase 'strike up a tune" came from

 

[Jonl51]

Very nice collection!

 

[mofederal]

This is a great thread James N. Thank you.

 

[Schwallanscher]

This is a great thread James N. Thank you.

what has james to do with this thread - i stipulate he does great threads, but this is not one of his

 

[Glen_C]

The Horstmann foot officer sword has an etched blade, not plain. It has been buffed out but apparent when looking on photobucket.

The Dahlgren would be a prize in any collection for ACW buffs. They scare me to death though that I would fall for a faked repro. This one looks unfortunately scraped but still crisp enough (scary though) where it needs to be.

Cheers
GC

 

[drm2m]

Better photos of the Dahlgren.

 

[Glen_C]

There are, apparently, two Ames address markings that are correct for these. Both this arched marking and straight line correct depending on year. Many of the repros don't use a period type face, show stick right out. The spring screw a clue but easily spoofed.

Nice piece
Cheers
GC

 

[Glen_C]

Two other Ames blades scare me too. The Riflemans knife and the Sapper bayonet.

Cheers

GC

 

[drm2m]

The 'Long' and the 'Short.'

The Dahlgren Ames manufactured knife bayonet with scabbard dated 1864. (The Short) with a M1855 Type II saber bayonet for the U.S. Model 1841 rifle with PB/P Harpers Ferry inspection stamp. (The Long)

The leather scabbards for both bayonets are in very good condition which is not always the case with these bayonets.

 

[MRB1863]

Nice collection! I have one lonely "Starr" sword and scabbard.

 

[Richard E. Schenk]

The Horstmann foot officer sword has an etched blade, not plain. It has been buffed out but apparent when looking on photobucket.

The Dahlgren would be a prize in any collection for ACW buffs. They scare me to death though that I would fall for a faked repro. This one looks unfortunately scraped but still crisp enough (scary though) where it needs to be.

I agree the Dahlgren looks righteous. The arched address is correct for the year 1864.

As I noted in my post above, although the initial USMC M1859 sergeants' swords had plain blades, at a relatively early date the Marines added generic etching. Most foot officers' swords had etching patterns with a Federal eagle on the center panel on the obverse side and a "U.S." on the reverse. Since the Horstmann sword in this thread has generic etching, leather grips, and is apparently not gilt, I believe it may be a Marine staff NCO sword. I am curious whether its etch pattern matched that of the generically etched USMC sword I posted above​

 

[drm2m]

Richard, I don't know if these photos answer your question.

"Most foot officers' swords had etching patterns with a Federal eagle on the center panel on the obverse side and a "U.S." on the reverse."--- (NONE SEEN)
The scabbard is not steel.