Sword Displays?

[VMI88]

I have several swords I'd like to display but the commercial mounts I've seen for sale are either pricey, cheap-looking, or both! Does anyone have a good source for something nice that doesn't break the bank?

I have a couple of VMI cadet sabers I'd like to display using a wooden shield-shaped plaque where the sword and scabbard are crossed in an "X". Doesn't have to be fancy, just a simple wooden shield, but the ones I've seen online are anywhere from $65 - $100.

I'm also looking for ideas to display a cavalry saber, either a shield as described above or some type of nice-looking rack. I'm not really looking for a shadowbox-type display.

There has to be somebody out there making quality sword mounts that won't break the bank - any assistance would be appreciated!

 

[bobinwmass]

While my "special" swords go into lit display cases

my more common swords are mounted to the wall using the double robe/towel hooks you can get at the hardware store.

With the double hooks they hold both sword and scabbard.

 

[JOHN42768]

Great looking display

 

[redbob]

I went with the easily constructed board and peg method, it is relatively inexpensive to construct and if you are concerned about the wooden pegs damaging the scabbards, you can cover them with plastic tubing.

 

[captaindrew]

James N. Has a very nice display he's posted before, maybe he can post it again for you.

 

[Sundance]

I'll try to get a picture up but I need my son to assist so I'll describe as best I can. I cut slices from a 2 x 4 about 3/4 of an inch thick. With a drill and a jig saw I cut out a slot for the sword blade about 1 1/2' tall and 3/8 ' wide. I screw an eye into the top (and bottom for additional swords) of each block and attach a link or 2 of a decorative chain. I hang 2 of these chain and block hangers from the bottom of a shelf about a foot and a half apart and slide the sword through the 2 slots. Additional blocks are added below with additional eyes and chain links.

 

[Cavalier]

@bobinwmass @redbob Being at ardent admirer of swords I would to like to say I loved the photos of your collections. Very impressive! Thanks.

John

 

[redbob]

@bobinwmass @redbob Being at ardent admirer of swords I would to like to say I loved the photos of your collections. Very impressive! Thanks.

John

Thank you, collecting them has brought me a great deal of pleasure.

 

[bobinwmass]

@bobinwmass @redbob Being at ardent admirer of swords I would to like to say I loved the photos of your collections. Very impressive! Thanks.

John

I thank you also. Swords are my favorite weapon to collect. Some of them are truly works of art, but they can be very addictive. There are at least another 15 scattered around the "museum room" that did not make it into the photos.

 

[Sundance]

Bob, I love your display and to redbob the same. Swords fascinate me also and I wish I could buy "em all but I'm happy I have a couple (is my wife watching?)

 

[redbob]

Bob, I love your display and to redbob the same. Swords fascinate me also and I wish I could buy "em all but I'm happy I have a couple (is my wife watching?)

Actually while I enjoy the swords, my first love is artillery.

 

[bobinwmass]

Bob, I love your display and to redbob the same. Swords fascinate me also and I wish I could buy "em all but I'm happy I have a couple (is my wife watching?)

It's taken over 20 years to get the collection to where it is today, usually one or 2 per year. Was fortunate enough to add a couple extra over the past year, but need to slow it down with retirement approaching. (Just don't tell anyone there's another one on layaway as of a couple weeks ago.)

 

[Sundance]

I'm in semi-retirement mode now. I'll look forward to seeing that one you have on hold. I love that officers presentation silver hilted sword. I think you've shown it here before.

 

[bayonet]

I have several swords I'd like to display but the commercial mounts I've seen for sale are either pricey, cheap-looking, or both! Does anyone have a good source for something nice that doesn't break the bank?

I have a couple of VMI cadet sabers I'd like to display using a wooden shield-shaped plaque where the sword and scabbard are crossed in an "X". Doesn't have to be fancy, just a simple wooden shield, but the ones I've seen online are anywhere from $65 - $100.

I'm also looking for ideas to display a cavalry saber, either a shield as described above or some type of nice-looking rack. I'm not really looking for a shadowbox-type display.

There has to be somebody out there making quality sword mounts that won't break the bank - any assistance would be appreciated!

Well long screws don't "break the bank". I use either black or copper color screws to match the sword colors and not stand out. You hardly notice the screws and they don't cover up the details or part of the swords.

 

[Cavalier]

Well this thread has turned into a real cold steel collage! Thank you too @bayonet. And I really like your pre civil war blades too.

John

 

[bobinwmass]

I'm in semi-retirement mode now. I'll look forward to seeing that one you have on hold. I love that officers presentation silver hilted sword. I think you've shown it here before.

Good memory! While I never did a separate thread about the silver hilted foot officer sword, I did introduce it to you guys in the thread about Photos of Your Favorite Civil War Treasure or Display.

 

[bayonet]

Well this thread has turned into a real cold steel collage! Thank you too @bayonet. And I really like your pre civil war blades too.

John

Yeah and as soon as I pay off my Daughters Student Loans I'll buy some more (and here I thought I was retired). Yup dark screws keeping that cost down but look ok. Of course I'm running out of wall space in my Man Cave. Spontoons, Halberds, and Pikes take up a lot of room!

 

[James N.]

James N. Has a very nice display he's posted before, maybe he can post it again for you.

You're probably thinking of my fan of French officer's epee's and smallswords that cover approximately a century, 1770-1870. The display is on heavy plywood covered with burgundy colored heavy weight felt-like cloth. It was built by my late sword collecting mentor Robert Justice for himself to display his impressive collection of Mameluke-hilted swords and sabers. (This was based on a photograph used as the cover illustration of a sword collecting book by Wilkinson-Latham.) Unfortunately, Robert - who was an absolute genius at this sort of thing - was frequently improvident financially and sooner or later forced to dispose of his various collections of militaria. When that happened I made him an offer to buy the board on which to mount my collection of epees. They are held on by simple drapery hardware - hooks, ells, and eyelets. The four short swords or hangars to the sides are French Revolutionary at left and Napoleonic to the right.

While my "special" swords go into lit display cases
View attachment 412067
my more common swords are mounted to the wall using the double robe/towel hooks you can get at the hardware store.

Only smaller blades go into cases, as with this Heer dagger; others include a common SA dagger (you can get a glimpse of it in the top photo at lower right) and a kampfmesser or "boot knife." (Since photographing it, this case has been rearranged to include 3 German combat badges, 2 wound badges and to substitute an EK I for the EK II.)

With the double hooks they hold both sword and scabbard.

I've found for most of my larger swords and sabers like these M.1850 staff and foot officer's swords above and M.1840 and M.1860 cavalry sabers below that large and small ell hooks and picture hangers seem to work fine. Of course they make holes in the wall, if that's a consideration!

The two Federalist-era officers' swords below are likewise held in place on the mantel by three tiny ell hooks screwed directly into the wooden panel:

 

[captaindrew]

View attachment 412199

You're probably thinking of my fan of French officer's epee's and smallswords that cover approximately a century, 1770-1870. The display is on heavy plywood covered with burgundy colored heavy weight felt-like cloth. It was built by my late sword collecting mentor Robert Justice for himself to display his impressive collection of Mameluke-hilted swords and sabers. (This was based on a photograph used as the cover illustration of a sword collecting book by Wilkinson-Latham.) Unfortunately, Robert - who was an absolute genius at this sort of thing - was frequently improvident financially and sooner or later forced to dispose of his various collections of militaria. When that happened I made him an offer to buy the board on which to mount my collection of epees. They are held on by simple drapery hardware - hooks, ells, and eyelets. The four short swords or hangars to the sides are French Revolutionary at left and Napoleonic to the right.


View attachment 412204

Only smaller blades go into cases, as with this Heer dagger; others include a common SA dagger (you can get a glimpse of it in the top photo at lower right) and a kampfmesser or "boot knife." (Since photographing it, this case has been rearranged to include 3 German combat badges, 2 wound badges and to substitute an EK I for the EK II.)

View attachment 412205

I've found for most of my larger swords and sabers like these M.1850 staff and foot officer's swords above and M.1840 and M.1860 cavalry sabers below that large and small ell hooks and picture hangers seem to work fine. Of course they make holes in the wall, if that's a consideration!

View attachment 412208

The two Federalist-era officers' swords below are likewise held in place on the mantel by three tiny ell hooks screwed directly into the wooden panel:

View attachment 412201

Yup, that's the one, always admired that display. Don't recall seeing some of the others, fabulous collection.

 

[James N.]

Well long screws don't "break the bank". I use either black or copper color screws to match the sword colors and not stand out. You hardly notice the screws and they don't cover up the details or part of the swords.View attachment 412107View attachment 412108

I LOVE your splay of French-and-Indian War swords and sabers! I have a couple of stirrup-hilted French sabre-briquets like yours at top right but mine are of Revolutionary manufacture, ca. 1790.