Jim thought others here might enjoy a paralell discusion regarding the Virginia Manufactory swords. I had watched this one move on the street with a good bit of interest but was unable to commit more funds to one such at this time.
These are not extremely rare but they don't come up for sale much these days. However, it seems the times have brought more out of the shadows. In some recent poking around
I just came across another multi purpose 1836 gazetteer for my google shelf. Page 83 for militia stores and more. Plonk goes that one and not just for arms information.
There are a couple of good online articles that may be of interest as well. One from the late David Radcliffe's notes, entitled Four Big Black Swords.
http://www.armscollectors.com/mgs/fo...ack_swords.htm
Along with Bezdek's 1812 book, there is also another link that will come up in searches. This one from the American Society of Arms Collectors.
http://americansocietyofarmscollecto...swordtest2.htm
BElow are some pictures of a sword that recently passed through the market with what was a good price in this day and age.
Cheers
Hotspur;
one might regard Starr and Rose as other names of the day