I also wanted to show another sword that I have no idea what it is or where it came from or how old and need some help in identification. It is 39 1/2" and weighs approximately 2 1/2 pounds, it looks like the basket is made of nickel or something like it, the handle is leather with twisted wire. the blade is corroded and has design on the upper part. The only marks I can find is the one I will show, it is on the blade near the basket. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Well, it's obviouly a British baskethilt, Scottish or possibly English. I don't know enough of this type of sword to comment more then that, but I'll add that I don't think I've ever seen this design before.

Very interesting. Hope someone more baskethilt-savvy can tell us more about it.

The mark on the blade indicates it was made by Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie of Solingen, Germany. They are making the Wilkinson style basket hilts currently. The construction of the basket, with that loop - for lack of a better term - where the basket joins the blade is something I have not seen before. Perhaps someone out there has more information.

I would agree that it is probably a Scottish basket-hilt. The thistle is a symbol of Scotland I think. It is an interesting one though. It's blade is different at the base, near the guard, from most baskit-hilts I've seen. It does seem to be of the backsword style, as opposed to the broad. Sorry I can't be more help.

The mark is of Weyersburg for sure but that family's use of it goes back at least to the 1780s. the Weyersburg and Kirschbaum association came to be in the 1880s. Previous to the 1780s, the Wundes family used various king's head marks.

I am no authority at all on baskethilts but use of German blades in England was quite common in the 18th century. Indeed, entire baskehilts were made in Germany as well. Silvered and gilt hilts well predate the 19th century. The Germans were doing a lot of nickle plate by the 1860s. The heavily etched blade would make me think later than the first quarter of the 19th century but the Weyersburg mark by itself in this context would make me consider it before the merge with Kirschbaum.

Cheers

GC