Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > Help with a Mason sword? Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
Russ Silveroli




Location: Ohio, USA
Joined: 09 Jul 2017

Posts: 2

PostPosted: Mon 10 Jul, 2017 9:26 am    Post subject: Help with a Mason sword?         Reply with quote

Hi and thank you for allowing me here. I have been searching around the web for a few days now at many forums, videos...etc and can't seem to find a specific answer. A friend of mine who has always been like my father figure (he is in his early 60s) had found a sword that belonged to his father who was a Mason. Hes not sure what fraternity or group he was part of.

He has given me the sword (not to keep of course) to see if I could find out anything about it. I know its ceremonial and from what I gather maybe 19th century. He was looking to find what order it was from and what its meaning was. And possibly a value, though he does not plan on selling it just yet. Any help you can provide would be wonderful!

I uploaded the images to a gallery here, hopefully there are enough pictures to work with:
https://postimg.org/gallery/2mxlse4ik/
View user's profile Send private message
Glen A Cleeton




Location: Nipmuc USA
Joined: 21 Aug 2003

Posts: 1,968

PostPosted: Mon 10 Jul, 2017 3:46 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Welcome aboard Russ

The sword is that of a Knight's Templar, an advanced degree of the Free Masons. At the base of the blade is likely the retailer's name. The owner's name etched longways on the blade. If there is a good chain of ownership, looking at the background of the original owner can date the sword pretty well. It is a style that may show it to have been manufactured in Germany.

Quite common, a sales search will show the street prices. Examples with uniforms and medals, along with a complete package can be subjectively more valuable. There are many, many of them out there, while their singularity can be an interesting study.

Cheers

GC
View user's profile Send private message
Russ Silveroli




Location: Ohio, USA
Joined: 09 Jul 2017

Posts: 2

PostPosted: Mon 10 Jul, 2017 6:09 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Wow thanks. I'll let him know. Hes interested in getting it prices so he can possibly sell it in the future. But hes looking for someone who can give a good value. He also mentioned its not his grandfathers but something like his great-great-great grandfathers. He himself is a 9th generation Mason.

I'm going to look at it closer for the marks you were referring too. If he does sell it I don't want him selling it at some pawn show who probably will not give him what its worth.
View user's profile Send private message
Glen A Cleeton




Location: Nipmuc USA
Joined: 21 Aug 2003

Posts: 1,968

PostPosted: Mon 10 Jul, 2017 8:44 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

IMO, no earlier than the 1890s and quite likely early 20th century. If you search ebay for "knights templar sword" and narrow to sold listings, you'll get an idea of past sales.

The owner's name on the blade should date it easily, if a sword passed down directly in the family.

No swords involved in tracing my own family but records quite solidly kept since the late 18th century (my paternal ggg-grandfather born in 1803), I am 63 and my gg-grandfather was born in the 1830s.

Cheers

GC



 Attachment: 92.63 KB
Baltimore.jpg
They really are everywhere
View user's profile Send private message
Hadrian Coffin
Industry Professional



Location: Oxford, England
Joined: 03 Apr 2008

Posts: 403

PostPosted: Tue 11 Jul, 2017 7:03 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

In terms of price, these swords are unfortunately not worth very much. In USD roughly $200-250 at maximum retail. You will see some listed higher on eBay, etc ($350+), but they will not be selling typically.

If you would like more information, I suggest this book:



 Attachment: 10.73 KB
41c7KZnq1gL._SL500_AA240_.jpg


Historia magistra vitae est
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > Help with a Mason 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