Challenge of Command Sword? -- myArmoury.com

Scott Applegate · Posted: Thu 19 Jul, 2012 9:10 pm Post subject: Challenge of Command Sword?

There is a book by Roger Nye called the Challenge of Command. On the cover of this book is what appears to be an army officer's saber, but with and eagle head pommel instead of the tradition block of medal on the standard army officer's saber. I have tried for a number of years to find a copy of this sword, or even any other photos of a sword like this one, without success. I was wondering if anyone on this forum has seen a saber like this one or knows any details. It is possible that Mr. Nye had it custom made for the book.

A picture of the cover is shown below.

Thanks,

Scott

Matt Easton · Posted: Fri 20 Jul, 2012 4:07 am Post subject:

A US 1903 Pattern presentation model with eagle head pommel?

Glen A Cleeton · Posted: Fri 20 Jul, 2012 6:33 am Post subject:

Good eye Matt

1902 all officers, yes presentation grade. Many made in Germany for the American market. I recognize the photo with the cane background. That would be from Vagarian aka Sean Scott here. Used by most of the land services and optional for the Air Force (iirc).

The run of the mill 1902 looks like the one shown below

Cheers

GC

Scott Applegate · Posted: Wed 15 Aug, 2012 9:50 am Post subject: Thanks

Gentlemen, thanks for your identification, I greatly appreciate it. I found out the WKC, though Marlow White, is willing to custom make one of these and has done so in the past. While it obviously won't be an original, I plan to have one made as a family heirloom to pass onto my son someday after I retire. Interestingly enough, there is no regulation in the Army that actually covers wear of the saber on the uniform with the exception of the drill and ceremonies manual which mostly relates to saber manual of arms. That manual merely specifies that the nomenclature of the sword is 1902. Given that, I plan to wear the new sword at future balls in lieu of my regular 1902. I miss the days back in the late 80s when I was in the 101st Airborne Division and the officers wore sabers and conducted saber manual of arms at the Division Change of Commands... we have lost too many traditions in the army. Thanks again for your help.

Ozsváth Árpád-István · Posted: Thu 23 Aug, 2012 9:19 pm Post subject:

That's look alot like the romanian officer's sword, also made by Germany.