warpath Posted November 30, 2015 Share #1 Posted November 30, 2015 USS North Carolina Presentation Sword "Presented To Lieutenant J.G. E. G. Higgins. US Navy By The Main Engine Division Of The U.S.S. North Carolina" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpath Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted November 30, 2015 "Presented To Lieutenant J.G. E. G. Higgins. US Navy By The Main Engine Division Of The U.S.S. North Carolina" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpath Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted November 30, 2015 Sword Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpath Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted November 30, 2015 Etching Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted November 30, 2015 Share #5 Posted November 30, 2015 Nice sword Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpath Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted November 30, 2015 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpath Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted November 30, 2015 I. Bernstein Brooklyn New York retailer name on ricasso Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpath Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share #8 Posted November 30, 2015 Hilt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted December 1, 2015 Share #9 Posted December 1, 2015 Beautiful sword. That's a presentation and a half. The North Carolina was a battleship - yes? I suppose there have been many/several North Carolinas. Does the retailor narrow down the sword's birthday? The narrow blades are nice but I'd love to have an early wide blade. They seem to be few and far between. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hirsca Posted December 1, 2015 Share #10 Posted December 1, 2015 Absolutly incredible! It's not only in better shape than my VN era sword, but what a great capture of history. Especially from the engineering guys. Thanks, Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpath Posted December 1, 2015 Author Share #11 Posted December 1, 2015 This sword dates to WW1 and Lt. Higgins served into the 1920s. Armored Cruiser NORTH CAROLINA (ACR-12), 1908-1921 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_North_Carolina_(ACR-12) USS North Carolina (ACR-12/CA-12) was a Tennessee-class armored cruiser of the United States Navy and the second Navy ship so named. She was also known as "Armored Cruiser No. 12" and later renamed and reclassified Charlotte (CA-12). I have another sword presented to him in 1909 when he was a Warrant Machinist at Naval Aeronautical Station Pensacola, Florida Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted December 15, 2015 Share #12 Posted December 15, 2015 It was made by Ames Sword Co. I would like to see the scabbard. There is much unpublished information on USN swords here. http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showthread.php?111916-US-Naval-Officers-Swords-1872-to-1942 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpath Posted December 15, 2015 Author Share #13 Posted December 15, 2015 Unfortunately, this one no longer has its sheath. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reschenk Posted December 15, 2015 Share #14 Posted December 15, 2015 I like this sword - aside from the presentation, the rest of the etching is also quite different than any other Navy officer's sword I've seen. I presume "E.G. Higgins" is Edward Gardiner Higgins who was a veteran of both the Spanish-American War and WWI. He served as an enlisted sailor for a bit over 12 years before he was made a Machinist Warrant on 2 Aug 1903. On 2 Aug 1909 he made Chief Machinist, and on 1 July 1918 was given the temporary rank of Lieutenant. On 3 Aug 1920 the promotion was made permanent. I believe he served on the North Carolina from 13 July 1917 until 1919 or so when he was transferred to Pensacola where he retired on 15 July 1921. According to all the Navy records he was born in Florida on 20 Sept 1868, but on his tombstone the birth date is given as 20 Sept 1871. He died in Pensacola on 1 Jan 1946. I would guess this sword was given to him by his shipmates on the occasion of his promotion to Lieutenant. The sword he received in 1909 was probably presented on the occasion of his promotion to Chief Machinist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpath Posted December 15, 2015 Author Share #15 Posted December 15, 2015 Your presumption is correct, sir! I have his full service records, but I have not made copies. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted December 16, 2015 Share #16 Posted December 16, 2015 There are two methods of blade etching. The transfer type places the resist on to the blade from a strip of wax paper, touching it up and then applying the acid. This sword has the resist hand painted on the blade. This is custom, hand applied resist etching. Resist is a mixture of anything such as wax, paraffin, asphaltum etc. that 'resists' acid. I have seen this done, it is nasty work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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