Muley Gil Posted May 9, 2020 Share #1 Posted May 9, 2020 About 14 years ago, I bought a sword off of eBay. The seller stated it was an Marine officer's sword from the 1859-1875 era. It has the USMC etching on the left side and W H Horstmann & Sons, Philadelphia on the right side. Engraving on both sides-scroll work, shield, E Pluribus Unum. There is no visible date stamp. I have seen pictures of the 1850 Foot & Staff officer's sword that had the USMC and a serial number stamping. There are a few traces of gold gilt present. There was no scabbard. I would like to put an approximate date on it. If I had my druthers, it would have belonged to a Marine officer who resigned his commission and joined the Confederate Marine Corps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warguy Posted May 9, 2020 Share #2 Posted May 9, 2020 Photos would sure help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SARGE Posted May 9, 2020 Share #3 Posted May 9, 2020 Photographs would help us determine the approximate date of the sword. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_hinch Posted May 10, 2020 Share #4 Posted May 10, 2020 Third nomination for photos, please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muley Gil Posted May 10, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted May 10, 2020 It is the middle sword in the second picture. I'll try and take some newer pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reschenk Posted May 10, 2020 Share #6 Posted May 10, 2020 You have a M1859 Sergeant's sword. It was copied from the M1850 foot officer sword, but had a number of differences. The hilt was plain brass where as the officers version was gilt; the grip was leather where as officer version was usually was shark skin; and the blade was initially plain polished steel whereas the officer blade was etched. (The etching on the officers' blade was the same as the Army version and did not include any reference to the Marines.) The scabbard was also quite different with two mount instead of three, i.e. a throat with a frog stud and the drag. At some point a change was made and the plain steel blades were etched with decorations to included the initials "U.S.M.C." in the central panel. The conventional date for the adoption the "U.S.M.C." is 1875, but this is almost certainly too late. These wide-bladed M1859 swords continue in service until replaced with a narrow-bladed sword with a different etching pattern after WWI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muley Gil Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share #7 Posted May 13, 2020 There is still some gilt visible; most of it has worn off. The grip is sharkskin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reschenk Posted May 13, 2020 Share #8 Posted May 13, 2020 Do you have a close-up of the hilt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muley Gil Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share #9 Posted May 13, 2020 I'll have to take some new pictures. I was mistaken about the handle. It is leather, not sharkskin. The blade is etched on both sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reschenk Posted May 15, 2020 Share #10 Posted May 15, 2020 Does the decoration on the pommel show of oak leaves or laurel? Oak leaves were use during the war, laurel were later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muley Gil Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share #11 Posted May 16, 2020 Mine has the laurel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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