Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > What is this Sword? Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
Robert Deibert




Location: United States
Joined: 20 Sep 2012

Posts: 2

PostPosted: Thu 20 Sep, 2012 2:47 pm    Post subject: What is this Sword?         Reply with quote

I have had this for many years. I got it out of a friends attic. I have no idea what it is or where or when it was used. On the blade it says: F. Horster Solingen..Can anyone help me here & is it worth anything? Thanks Bob

Is there any value to this or is it junk ?



 Attachment: 219.04 KB
sword.jpg



Last edited by Robert Deibert on Fri 21 Sep, 2012 5:53 am; edited 1 time in total
View user's profile Send private message
Jeffrey Faulk




Location: Georgia
Joined: 01 Jan 2011

Posts: 578

PostPosted: Thu 20 Sep, 2012 3:02 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Judging from the grip which appears to be some sort of checkered plastic under the brass, I'd take a stab at a fairly recent (no earlier than the 50s) dress/ceremonial sword of some sort, possibly European. Are there any other markings or etchings upon the blade or grip? And have you cleaned it (the brass looks rather bright)?
View user's profile Send private message
Gottfried P. Doerler




Location: Tyrol, Austria
Joined: 11 Oct 2009
Likes: 4 pages

Posts: 229

PostPosted: Thu 20 Sep, 2012 3:28 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

i think its from the turn of the century or early 1900`s.
the plastic material possibly is bakelite.
i don`t know where its from, if i had to guess i`d say it feels spanish/portugiese.
View user's profile Send private message
Glen A Cleeton




Location: Nipmuc USA
Joined: 21 Aug 2003

Posts: 1,968

PostPosted: Thu 20 Sep, 2012 3:37 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Jeffrey Faulk wrote:
Judging from the grip which appears to be some sort of checkered plastic under the brass, I'd take a stab at a fairly recent (no earlier than the 50s) dress/ceremonial sword of some sort, possibly European. Are there any other markings or etchings upon the blade or grip? And have you cleaned it (the brass looks rather bright)?


Looks like Italian navy mid to third quarter 19th century.

Germany Solingen Horster, Fredrich the Elder 1800 1850
Germany Solingen Horster, Fredrich the Younger 1825 1875
Germany Solingen Horster, E & F & Company 1850 1974

From the www.oldswords.com site showing an example of this sword

Overall length in scabbard 37 Overall length in scabbard 31 1/4 Blade. Naval Bronze Fittings & Hilt. Black Hand Carved Horn Grip......This sword is Italian M.1848 for "sottuficiliali della Regia Marina" Navy sub-officers. c.1850 (Information courtesy of Enrique FermÃÂn)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is hard to say from the picture what the grip material is but keep in mind that plastcs development begain mid 19th century. The Old Swords example is more chewed up but is this item we are looking at.

I have an unidentified E&F Horster naval sword I blame on Romania but the same Horster eagle pommel and backstrap show up on a number of swords from several countries.

Welcome To myArmoury Robert

Cheers

GC
View user's profile Send private message
Marik C.S.




Location: Germany
Joined: 16 Feb 2010

Posts: 163

PostPosted: Thu 20 Sep, 2012 3:46 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Quote:
Founded as F. Horster in 1850.

Became E. & F. Horster in 1870.

Bankrupt in 1996.


I can't vouch for the correctness of these facts, I just found them with a quick Google search, but if it is really F Horster not E&F Hörster that would at least give a reasonable timespan for the blade.

Europe - Where the History comes from. - Eddie Izzard
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website ICQ Number
Ozsváth Árpád-István




Location: Romania
Joined: 27 Apr 2008

Posts: 131

PostPosted: Thu 20 Sep, 2012 9:39 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Feels like early 20th century. Ebonite was available since the 1860s, but plastic grips on swords were used only from the WWI period. It might be an earlier pattern manufactured later.

@Glen: Can you please post some pictures with your Romanian sword?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Glen A Cleeton




Location: Nipmuc USA
Joined: 21 Aug 2003

Posts: 1,968

PostPosted: Thu 20 Sep, 2012 10:20 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Ozsváth Árpád-István wrote:
Feels like early 20th century. Ebonite was available since the 1860s, but plastic grips on swords were used only from the WWI period. It might be an earlier pattern manufactured later.

@Glen: Can you please post some pictures with your Romanian sword?



Actually, the sword pictured is very much and exacting as described in my earlier post. Checkered horn was used quite a bit even back into the 18th century and I am rather surprised some will insist they see plastic vs horn.


As to my E&F Horster naval piece, it is also possible it was a mix of parts post WWII but I somehow think not, This sword is in pretty rough shape and missing its decorative nut, which I replaced with a simple cutlery nut as one sees on German fixed blades and others. The Italians (in this case) use a lion and not the eagles we see on the air force swords. As I say, I blame it on Romania, as there are cavalry officer eagles as well. There are South American use examples of this Horster eagle pommel and backstrap as well but this is the only naval example I have found over the years.

Cheers

GC



 Attachment: 42.81 KB
Easter Sabre.jpg


 Attachment: 61.23 KB
Easter1.jpg


 Attachment: 61.4 KB
Easter6.jpg


 Attachment: 56.27 KB
[ Download ]

 Attachment: 191.82 KB
[ Download ]
View user's profile Send private message
Ozsváth Árpád-István




Location: Romania
Joined: 27 Apr 2008

Posts: 131

PostPosted: Fri 21 Sep, 2012 12:12 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Back than most of the blades were Solingen-made. The early 20th century romanian swords have etched blades ,the etching containing the royal cypher (Ferdinand, Carol I and II, Michael) and "SOLINGEN" or "TOLEDO" inscription. Strangely "TOLEDO" marked blades were also German-made (Alex Coppel, W.K.C., EuF Horster).


Here's an example of a typical romanian sword:
http://arch6.okr.ro/auctions.v3/700_700/2010/...00_700.jpg

The Serbs had same eagle-head design, but it also can be an U.S. presentation sword.

http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?p...ht=#254422
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > What is this Sword?
Page 1 of 1 Reply to topic
All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum