What do I have here ? early USMC NCO Sword

[1st Sgt CES]

Hello Everyone---- does any one know the time period for this sword and what it is worth ? Sword is made in the US, has the following marks on it 124 and 32, made by WM HORSTMANN. Any help would be great-- Thanks Mark

[reschenk]

This is the current design M1859 USMC NCO sword. It was adopted shortly after World War I when Gen. Charles McCawley, then Quartermaster of the Corps, redesigned the old wide-bladed sergeant's sword which had been used by the Corps since 1859. The narrow top fuller was removed, reducing the blade to its current width of 7/8”, and the current etching design, which includes the spelled-out name “United States Marines” and the iconic USMC eagle, globe and anchor on both sides of the blade, was adopted. I have been unable to find a primary source for the precise date of this change. The date most often cited is 1918, but I doubt this is correct.

 

Gen. McCawley didn’t return from France until 16 December 1918, and it seems unlikely redesign of the NCO sword was a top priority of either himself or the Quartermaster Division either during or immediately after the war, so I suspect the introduction of the new sword was somewhat after 1918.

Your sword is an early example, probably dating to the 1920s. Where are the numbers you mentioned? On the top of the guard near the quillon and on the drag of the scabbard? If so, they are rack/inventory control numbers. They are desirable because they show the sword is one procured by the USMC Quartermaster for official use vice being a private purchase sword.

Modern examples are quite common and seldom fetch more than a couple hundred. These early examples are quite scarce. The Marine Corps was quite small between the wars, so there were not all that many NCOs and consequently not too many swords were needed. An early example should command a premium, but how large a premium I don't know. It's a matter of supply and demand - the supply is small, but I'm not sure how much demand is out there. The value also depends on whether you have a scabbard and its condition.

[1st Sgt CES]

Hello reschenk--- Thank you for taking the time to help me on this sword-- there is no scabbard for the sword--- Thanks Again Mark