B-17Guy Posted January 9, 2016 Share #1 Posted January 9, 2016 After searching for almost twenty years, I finally have one and it is as right as they get. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted January 9, 2016 Author Share #2 Posted January 9, 2016 back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintageproductions Posted January 9, 2016 Share #3 Posted January 9, 2016 Merry Christmas........ Do you know how many times I almost slipped when we were talking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutiger83 Posted January 9, 2016 Share #4 Posted January 9, 2016 Congrats. What are these badges? I have never seen these. ...Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1SG_1st_Cav Posted January 9, 2016 Share #5 Posted January 9, 2016 Awesome badge! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry K. Posted January 9, 2016 Share #6 Posted January 9, 2016 Wow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve B. Posted January 9, 2016 Share #7 Posted January 9, 2016 Outstanding! I'm still looking for mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted January 9, 2016 Share #8 Posted January 9, 2016 They are cool badges and I've been lucky enough to have had a couple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted January 9, 2016 Share #9 Posted January 9, 2016 Tredhead had one for sale as part of a grouping not long ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted January 9, 2016 Share #10 Posted January 9, 2016 What period are they from? I've never seen one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted January 9, 2016 Author Share #11 Posted January 9, 2016 Merry Christmas........ Do you know how many times I almost slipped when we were talking? Yes, lol, my wife told me. Great story about how she conspired with Ron and you to make the whole thing happen. Great Christmas present from my wife! She knew it was a Holy Grail piece. Sundance, they were used on a very limited basis from 1914 till 1921. Here is an Emerson link- http://www.emersoninsignia.net/files/Download/10Swordsman.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atb Posted January 9, 2016 Share #12 Posted January 9, 2016 Maybe to answer the questions. If I remember correctly, this badge was in use in the pre-WW1 period and into the 1920's. A specific qualification course had to be completed on horseback by cavalrymen in order to earn the badge. It was replaced by a "SWORD" bar for the 1921 pattern marksmanship badge. There has been an article or two about this badge in the ASMIC publication "Trading Post." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tredhed2 Posted January 9, 2016 Share #13 Posted January 9, 2016 As atb says, the "Swordsman" badge was awarded for completing a course designed by George S. Patton, the one and only. And yes, I still have one for sale, named, with a lot of other memorabilia to the soldier who owned it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwnorma Posted January 9, 2016 Share #14 Posted January 9, 2016 Yowza! Now that is something you don't see every day. Better than even odds that whoever wore that knew George Patton. Congratulations, and well done. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwnorma Posted January 9, 2016 Share #15 Posted January 9, 2016 Congrats. What are these badges? I have never seen these. ...Kat Kat, Expert Swordsman. Awarded to the best swordsman in Division and higher, determined by actual competition. Only awarded from about 1910 to about 1917 or so... (Guys help me out here, were these issued any after WW1 or did they stop in 1917???). Possibly only a few dozen were ever awarded--certainly no more than 100. Up there with the 1913 Military Aviator badge in terms of rareness. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutiger83 Posted January 9, 2016 Share #16 Posted January 9, 2016 Thanks so much for the explanation of these badges. Very nice! ...Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMariner Posted January 9, 2016 Share #17 Posted January 9, 2016 Just curious myself what is one of these worth ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted January 9, 2016 Share #18 Posted January 9, 2016 Back in the 1980's, Hayes O. in Montana was offering $1,000 for one of these. Once he found one, I think the price dropped quite a bit, but they are still quite desirable and valuable. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMariner Posted January 9, 2016 Share #19 Posted January 9, 2016 Hmm very interesting info thank you Allan and a great badge for sure ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Marine Posted January 9, 2016 Share #20 Posted January 9, 2016 Merry Christmas is right, that's a great piece, congratulations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted January 9, 2016 Author Share #21 Posted January 9, 2016 Thanks to everyone for all the interest in the badge. Regarding price and rarity, well, I've been looking for years and years, never finding a good one (lots of fakes). Some collectors have seen them now and then, but I did a search on the forum and found none to add this post to. Regarding value, anybody's guess, these badges are truly very rare. I guess Hayes offering $1000 thirty years ago gives some idea. Again folks, thanks for all the interest and comments, I hope they keep going as more people get to enjoy seeing this rare badge, as I enjoy sharing it. All the best, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freestyle Posted February 9, 2016 Share #22 Posted February 9, 2016 Same here. Outstanding! Congrats Outstanding!I'm still looking for mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share #23 Posted February 12, 2016 Same here. Outstanding! Congrats Thanks very much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share #24 Posted February 18, 2017 Looks like another one came on to the market briefly. http://baystatemilitaria.com/WWI/WWIMetalInsignia.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atb Posted February 19, 2017 Share #25 Posted February 19, 2017 Kat, Expert Swordsman. Awarded to the best swordsman in Division and higher, determined by actual competition. Only awarded from about 1910 to about 1917 or so... (Guys help me out here, were these issued any after WW1 or did they stop in 1917???). Possibly only a few dozen were ever awarded--certainly no more than 100. Up there with the 1913 Military Aviator badge in terms of rareness. Chris Two awarded per cavalry regiment is what I read. As stated earlier, issued until the 1921 marksmanship badges were adopted. See Emerson's Army marksmanship award book for an accurate history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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