Can you identify these swords

kharmachanic · 13th March 2010, 07:57 PM

Aloha,
My father recently passed away, and in going through his "pack rat hovel" I re-discovered a couple of items. these used to be our "sword fighting" implements when we were all kids.
As far as I can tell/remember these were discovered by my dad in his uncles house after he passed away. My great uncle was a member of the knights of Pythias in KEY WEST Fla. My ancestors were some of the original settlers of Key West, having moved from The Bahamas, and previously from S. Carolina during the Revolutionary war.
Best I have been able to assertain is they are from the late 1800's, they dont seem to fall into the normal cerimonial swords I have seen form the knights of pythias.
They have the following engraving on the swords, Luckhaus $ Gunther - Remscheid, and what appears to be a sheep with a cross topped standard enclosed in a circle. The long swords are numbered 500 and 509, the short sword has the same info but the circle around the sheep is broken and not solid and its number is 555.
The long swords are 30" in lengths and have a non sharpened edge. the Short sword is 18 1/4" long.

everyone that could have provided more info is gone now so I am trying to find out a little more about them form whatever resource I can find. So here I am.
let me know if you can help .
I put one image here and the others on a webpage as I did not want to put 12 images in this space.

Thanks

here is the link to the others.

link to the swords in question

carlos · 13th March 2010, 08:58 PM

I think they are machetes from Span-Am war in Cuba. They usually wear blades from German makers.
Very good pieces, I love this type of machetes.
Thanks
carlos

Rick · 13th March 2010, 09:36 PM

I like these, I think you've got something good there ; the clip point bowie looks formidable .
Someone in your family was in the Span Am war perhaps ?
Was Key West a disembarkation point for troops ?

Would these have been used by Spanish forces Carlos ?
Officer grade ?

carlos · 13th March 2010, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

I like these, I think you've got something good there ; the clip point bowie looks formidable .
Someone in your family was in the Span Am war perhaps ?
Was Key West a disembarkation point for troops ?

Would these have been used by Spanish forces Carlos ?
Officer grade ?

Yes, I think is very possible that were used by spanish officers. I have this link with very good information of machetes in Cuba.
best regards
carlos
http://www.catalogacionarmas.com/public/34-Ultramar.pdf

Rick · 13th March 2010, 10:51 PM

Thank you Carlos .

kharmachanic · 14th March 2010, 01:17 AM

Would these be considered machete even though they have a blunt "unsharpened" edge? OR am I thinking purely in the "cutting down the sugar cain and hacking the way through the jungle "machete" "

I am supposed to be getting a copy of the family history and I will scan it to see of any connection to the spanish american war. It is possible based on their geographic location during that time.

Thanks for your information.. keep it coming..

migueldiaz · 15th March 2010, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlos

Yes, I think is very possible that were used by spanish officers. I have this link with very good information of machetes in Cuba.
best regards
carlos
http://www.catalogacionarmas.com/public/34-Ultramar.pdf

Carlos, thanks for that link

Thus the one that just finished on eBay but which remained unsold [item 230446603410, and pics are below] would then be a Cuban or Puerto Rican "MACHETE DEL TIPO “DE GUANABACOA” EN PRODUCCIÓN TARDÍA, HACIA 1880." per page 2 of the link above.

Thanks again.

Rick · 15th March 2010, 04:42 PM

Knight head pommel .
http://arms2armor.com/Swords/pythias1.htm
Just tossing this into the mix .

13th March 2010, 07:57 PM	#1
kharmachanic Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 5	Can you identify these swords Aloha, My father recently passed away, and in going through his "pack rat hovel" I re-discovered a couple of items. these used to be our "sword fighting" implements when we were all kids. As far as I can tell/remember these were discovered by my dad in his uncles house after he passed away. My great uncle was a member of the knights of Pythias in KEY WEST Fla. My ancestors were some of the original settlers of Key West, having moved from The Bahamas, and previously from S. Carolina during the Revolutionary war. Best I have been able to assertain is they are from the late 1800's, they dont seem to fall into the normal cerimonial swords I have seen form the knights of pythias. They have the following engraving on the swords, Luckhaus $ Gunther - Remscheid, and what appears to be a sheep with a cross topped standard enclosed in a circle. The long swords are numbered 500 and 509, the short sword has the same info but the circle around the sheep is broken and not solid and its number is 555. The long swords are 30" in lengths and have a non sharpened edge. the Short sword is 18 1/4" long. everyone that could have provided more info is gone now so I am trying to find out a little more about them form whatever resource I can find. So here I am. let me know if you can help . I put one image here and the others on a webpage as I did not want to put 12 images in this space. Thanks here is the link to the others. link to the swords in question

15th March 2010, 04:42 PM	#8
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Pythias Knight head pommel . http://arms2armor.com/Swords/pythias1.htm Just tossing this into the mix .

13th March 2010, 08:58 PM	#2
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	I think they are machetes from Span-Am war in Cuba. They usually wear blades from German makers. Very good pieces, I love this type of machetes. Thanks carlos

13th March 2010, 09:36 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	I like these, I think you've got something good there ; the clip point bowie looks formidable . Someone in your family was in the Span Am war perhaps ? Was Key West a disembarkation point for troops ? Would these have been used by Spanish forces Carlos ? Officer grade ?

13th March 2010, 10:51 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Thank you Carlos .

14th March 2010, 01:17 AM	#6
kharmachanic Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 5	Would these be considered machete even though they have a blunt "unsharpened" edge? OR am I thinking purely in the "cutting down the sugar cain and hacking the way through the jungle "machete" " I am supposed to be getting a copy of the family history and I will scan it to see of any connection to the spanish american war. It is possible based on their geographic location during that time. Thanks for your information.. keep it coming..