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GAR reunion sword or fantasy piece


jefmil
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Any opinions on this item would be greatly appreciated. Handle appears crudely casted. Bright 30 inch blade "GERMANY" marked at hilt.

 

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What does the tag say?

 

There were/are many, many military association groups and military schools. Then there are the fraternal groups but many of those would often offer more clues. Unmarked other than Germany would likely place it around 1900 but there is no other indication I see from the photos. Is there any other etching on the blade?

 

The Ames catalog lists similar as military association swords and what I would describe it as. The form was still a regulation US Army pattern from 1860 until the m1902 sword for all officers. If there are no etchings on the blade, it was likely not an army officer's sword.

 

Cheers

GC

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Although never a regulation sword, this variation of the M1860 S&F sword was widely marketed by Ames and a number of other military outfitters in the late 19th century as a staff NCO sword and there are numerous contemporary photos showing them being worn by NCOs, probably from militia elements. They varied from the officers version primarily in the decoration on the knucklebow (stacked muskets vice flower/lightning bolt design, and the lack of the short connecting branch between the counterguard and the knucklebow. There were other diffferences as well. NCO blades were usually unetched, officer grips were usually sharkskin covered vice leather for NCOs, and NCO swords usually had no hole for knots.

 

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