Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

M ELEY · 29th November 2013, 10:11 PM

I had forgotten about Kirshbaum's swords and their spurious 'GR' markings! Yes, it would seem that the mystery is solved. Throughout the 19th century, Germany (or the Hapsburg Republic, pre-Germany) was importing swords to the Spanish colonies. I used to own a Span late-18th c. broadsword with a finely marked German blade. The makers of that piece, whom I had researched, had stationed themselves in Columbia and were active merchants to the colonies. Likewise, in my collection I have a German-made 'private purchase' cutlass, pipe-back broad unstopped fuller like yours, with 'VR' marking. It wasn't govm't issue, but it very well might have served on an English ship.

29th November 2013, 10:11 PM	#14
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	I had forgotten about Kirshbaum's swords and their spurious 'GR' markings! Yes, it would seem that the mystery is solved. Throughout the 19th century, Germany (or the Hapsburg Republic, pre-Germany) was importing swords to the Spanish colonies. I used to own a Span late-18th c. broadsword with a finely marked German blade. The makers of that piece, whom I had researched, had stationed themselves in Columbia and were active merchants to the colonies. Likewise, in my collection I have a German-made 'private purchase' cutlass, pipe-back broad unstopped fuller like yours, with 'VR' marking. It wasn't govm't issue, but it very well might have served on an English ship.