Markings or Decorations on Mexican Swords

[Matt Branch]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Hi Matt,
Still at it here!
In reviewing some interesting data on American swords. One of the earlier issues of regulation military swords for the U.S. was the M1833 which was essentially the same three bar hilt, adopted from the British M1821/29 light cavalry sabre. Apparantly although the well established maker of U.S. swords, Ames Co. of Chicopee, Mass. had a contract for these, they were substantially imported to the U.S. from several foreign makers by Tiffany & Co. of New York (these were typically unmarked as the buyer usually placed thier own name on the swords in these cases). It is suggested that the makers possibly included Robt. Mole of Birmingham, England along with two Solingen makers; Schnitzler & Kirschbaum and our Peter D. Luneschloss (PDL).

It is interesting that Albaugh ("Handbook of Confederate Swords") notes that many of the M1833 examples saw service with Confederate officers later in the Civil War. We have already established that PDL was a well established supplier of weapons actually to both sides during the Civil War, but in every instance of these, clearly much later than your sword which falls into the M1833 period, the marking is the PDL stamped in oval cartouche.

In further references concerning an Ames made M1833 dragoon sabre, it is noted that markings on the blade seem to have been engraved in cursive script, rather than stamped as was commonly the practice during those times (in the period 1834-1839).

With these sundry references which I found through various online searches, it would seem that the established activity of importing blades from Solingen, notably from P.D.Luneschloss during the period suggested in the 1830's may offer clues pertaining to your sword. Obviously with the complexities that appear to prevail with the U.S. swords and subcontracting to Solingen for them, as well as the note on the use of cursive script, despite appearing on the American made example M1833, it seems that our PDL may have also adopted that practice at the time. It would be too much to presume that a sword of this period with these initials at the forte of the blade, where makers typically identify thier work, would be those of an individual, particularly on a Mexican sword.

Again, while these observations and suggestions are derived from material I have read in various online searches, and obviously are speculative on my part, it seems that they may carry a degree of plausibility worth considering and researching further.

As always, very much enjoying the adventure!! Thanks Matt!

All the best,
Jim

Hi Jim,
I've been trying to find the information you wrote here so I could document it, and I'm having trouble finding it after many searches.
Do you have a copy of any of Albaugh's 3 books on confererats swords? I can't afford all the books I've found.
Do you remember where it is recorded about the PDL etched or inscribed in cursive blades?
Is the Wallace Collection a book? When I do a search, there are thousands of hits but not a sword collection.
I finally got an e-mail from Guerillmo Aragon and sent him some pictures, have not heard back yet.
I have not heard back from the Klingenmeuseum yet either.
I did find a book that was written by one of my ancestors and published with a Michigan historical society that mentions the sword and pistols in my g great grandfathers house right after the Cival War.
I'm still trying to figure out the decorations, still can't find anyting like them,
I can't travel to the museums with good collections.
Thanks again Jim for all you're help, got any suggestions on where I can find information on the decorations?
Regards
Matt

[Matt Branch]

I have e-mailed a link to my thread to some people to see the photos of my sword in hopes of more information on the decoration. I wanted to post a couple more photos of diffrent details.