nbolinger Posted November 22, 2014 Share #1 Posted November 22, 2014 I picked this sword up this week, and was told should be hard to ID the original owner. From what i can tell it was owned by a Captain H.H Coston who served from 1865 to 1892. Can anybody tell me when the sword dates from 1870s 1880s. At first i could not find a makers mark but i see the work Chicago where a makers mark would be. Can only make out that one word. Any help would be great. Thanks for your time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbolinger Posted November 22, 2014 Author Share #2 Posted November 22, 2014 fff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbolinger Posted November 22, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted November 22, 2014 sss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbolinger Posted November 22, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted November 22, 2014 weww Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbolinger Posted November 22, 2014 Author Share #5 Posted November 22, 2014 dfg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbolinger Posted November 22, 2014 Author Share #6 Posted November 22, 2014 aq Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbolinger Posted November 22, 2014 Author Share #7 Posted November 22, 2014 jjj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbolinger Posted November 22, 2014 Author Share #8 Posted November 22, 2014 Coston, H. H.Second Lieutenant, 9 March, 1865. First Lieutenant, 18 May, 1871. Captain, 9 March 1888. Retired 14 June, 1892. Died 6 November, 1896, at Pensacola, Fla. Cowan, William. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted November 22, 2014 Share #9 Posted November 22, 2014 Whoa...that's incredible!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Championhilz Posted November 22, 2014 Share #10 Posted November 22, 2014 I found the following obituary in the Evening Star of Washington DC November 7th 1896 - Death of Captain Coston Captain Henry H Coston of the Marine Corps retired died yesterday afternoon at his home in Pensacola Florida he contracted a severe cold during the late revolution in Chile from which he never recovered he will be buried in Pensacola. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Championhilz Posted November 22, 2014 Share #11 Posted November 22, 2014 I found a second obituary in the November 12, 1896, edition of the Evening Star, which gives a little more information about Coston: DEATH OF CAPT. COSTON Capt. Henry H. Coston of the Marine Corps, who died at Pensacola, Florida, last week, was a native of this city and entered the Marine Corps in 1861. Besides his sea service he served at the naval stations of New York, Pensacola, and Norfolk. He was retired in 1893 on account of ill health. He was the son of B.F. Coston, inventor of the Coston distress signals that are used in the navy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbolinger Posted November 22, 2014 Author Share #12 Posted November 22, 2014 Super Cool thanks for the help on the sword! I did not find that info. Thank you very much for your time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted November 22, 2014 Share #13 Posted November 22, 2014 Awesome sword! These early USMC blades are hard to find Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted November 22, 2014 Share #14 Posted November 22, 2014 I imagine then we're talking about a Chicago maker or retailer in the late 19th century. Anyone know who that might be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
American Heritage Posted November 23, 2014 Share #15 Posted November 23, 2014 incredible ID'ed USMC officer mameluke! Is there no name engraved on the blade at all? Just the initials on the scabbard? How did they know the name of the officer to begin with, what is the story on that name being passed down with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbolinger Posted November 23, 2014 Author Share #16 Posted November 23, 2014 Thanks for all the positive comments on the sword. The sword has the initials engraved on the blade also, it also has the box on the outside like the engraving on the scabbard. I did a search of the Marine Corps officers roster from 1790 to 1900 and he was the only officer in the Marine Corps with these initials. Was fun research and didn't take to much effort on my part.The sword came out of a antique shop and they got it long ago at a estate e sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted November 23, 2014 Share #17 Posted November 23, 2014 I love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony V Posted November 23, 2014 Share #18 Posted November 23, 2014 Great sword ! Congratulations and thank you for posting it. Awesome Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted November 23, 2014 Share #19 Posted November 23, 2014 Fantastic sword! Congrats! Semper Fi........Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SARGE Posted November 24, 2014 Share #20 Posted November 24, 2014 A very nice find and a very early sword. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted November 24, 2014 Share #21 Posted November 24, 2014 Remarkable find, congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horseclover Posted November 24, 2014 Share #22 Posted November 24, 2014 An archived link to an article on early Marines sabers and other types from the old American Society of Arms Collectors site/ A lot of the articles have yet to be added to their new site. pdf format https://web.archive.org/web/20111018075147/http://asoac.org/bulletins/93_bcureton_marine.pdf Cheers GC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZPhil Posted November 25, 2014 Share #23 Posted November 25, 2014 Fantastic Mameluke!! Semper Fi Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Trzaska Posted November 27, 2014 Share #24 Posted November 27, 2014 Very impressive find! I always love to hear successful stories like this, it recharges me to continue looking. All the best Frank Trzaska Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadpeoplesjunk Posted December 1, 2014 Share #25 Posted December 1, 2014 Not Chicago, it says ''chicopee'' as in Ames, Chicopee Mass.Besides the stations listed,He was on the steamers Hartford, Juniata, and Finally the Baltimore, which was involved in the Chile hostilities,so that may have something to do with the obit comment about him never recovering from the cold he got there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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