What is it?

M ELEY · 27th July 2011, 06:18 AM

Hmmm... The general form of the blade conforms to the American artillery officer's swords of the 1830's. They in turn were copying the Roman gladius. Later Confederate artillery soldier's patterns had this style blade with brass hilts with fishskin-type grips. Likewise, British band swords used similar patterns in the 1850's.
The French were the first to use the gladius pattern with brass hilt, after the that strange Ecol D' Mars pattern. I think that this one is a French pattern sword of the same form that was used for fraternal purposes. I'll try and russle up some pics from the net (I'm at work and can't post).

27th July 2011, 06:18 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Hmmm... The general form of the blade conforms to the American artillery officer's swords of the 1830's. They in turn were copying the Roman gladius. Later Confederate artillery soldier's patterns had this style blade with brass hilts with fishskin-type grips. Likewise, British band swords used similar patterns in the 1850's. The French were the first to use the gladius pattern with brass hilt, after the that strange Ecol D' Mars pattern. I think that this one is a French pattern sword of the same form that was used for fraternal purposes. I'll try and russle up some pics from the net (I'm at work and can't post). Last edited by M ELEY; 27th July 2011 at 06:45 AM.