[Snowdog]

Due to the success I had of having my father in-law's bayonet identified (thanks hso!), I thought I'd go ahead and post a few more here. Some of these have engraving on the blade and a cutlass that has inscription on the spine, blade back or whatever the back of the blade is called.

They all have varying degrees of surface rust but nothing horrendous. He is convinced that one or more were issued during or shortly before the Spanish American war. I only took perhaps half a dozen pictures but can take more if needed. I apologize that these aren't very good, photography is my wife's forte. I'll have her take the next ones if needed.

I'll continue to search images on the internet to try to find similar swords, but I thought it would be a good idea to post the images here in the meantime.
The last image is an engraving of the presentation date to his distant relative, a General Tobey.

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4402732092_153b85e518_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2766/4401969755_2c552e6f31_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4401966069_ef18c994a9_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2790/4401964477_bdfcf9a0b8_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4402759610_c155f23ba4_b.jpg

[hso]

The bottom one with the knight's helm pommel is a Masonic Knights Templar ceremonial sword.

Let's try a background for the pictures that isn't white. The camera "sees" the white and the sword detail ends up too dark. One picture at a time would be appreciated as well.

The scabbard with the cannon decoration is indicative of an artillery saber. Which saber goes with it?

[Snowdog]

His father and grandfather were Masons and there are other Masonic items he has in storage, so that would certainly make sense. I'll have to take a close look for any etchings on the blade.

[Gunfighter123]

In your second photo , the top sword looks very much like some that I have that are Philippine or Indonesian ---- often called Bolos in general but almost each island can have a local/different name for it.

[CWL]

In your second photo , the top sword looks very much like some that I have that are Philippine or Indonesian ---- often called Bolos in general but almost each island can have a local/different name for it.

That looks more like a plug bayonet to me. "Bolos" typically have thick leaf-shaped bladed utilized for chopping while this looks primarily like a 'sticker'. I'd like to see the blade out of the sheath.

[Gunfighter123]

"Bolo" type blade ;
See 3rd blade down on left;
http://eriksedge.com/category.php?catid=0148bed4ffe928a&category_name= Philippine Swords

Many Philippine or Indonesian blades have a "trace" of Spanish influence from the time when Spain was a force in that area. And it looks to me {I am no expert} a bit long and the handle "plug" to wide/thick for a Plug Bayonet , at least from the ones I have seen.

[SlamFire1]

Top one, top picture, looks like a M1872 Officer's sword

Second picture, bottom sword, is an M1850 Civil war Officer's sword.

This was based on the M1840 french. I like fighting swords the M1840 and M1850 were excellent weapons and an advanced design for the period.

Of the set, this should be the most valuble. Grease the blade, wrap it in wax paper and stop the rust on that blade.

[hso]

I'm betting plug bayonet instead of "bolo".

[Gunfighter123]

Plug Bayonet links and photos;
http://thearmouryonline.co.uk/BayonetHistory.htm
http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-weapons/bayonets.htm
http://www.arms2armor.com/Bayonets/europlug.htm
http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/bayonetsscabbards.htm
http://therionarms.com/reenact/therionarms_c1164.html
http://www.swordsofhonor.com/mrl402526.html
http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-weapons/bayonets.htm
http://bayonets.com/

Every "plug" bayonet I have seen in person or photos of had a MUCH longer and thinner handle or pommel and None of them {that I've seen } had a blade longer then 12 inches. If they were much longer then that , the pommel would then have to be somewhere around 6 inches deep in the firearms barrel for stability.


Snowdog ----- what is the blade length and apx. pommel/handle diameter at the very end of the weapon we are talking about ??? And better photos sure would help:o

[Snowdog]

Wow, there's a wealth of information here!

The top sword is the one that's engraved as been presented to Gen. Tobey (my father-in-law's grandfather) in 1895.

The one that's still in the sheath (because I cannot get it out) doesn't look much like any bayonet that I've ever seen. The seemingly handmade handguard is brass and hasn't any apparent attachment that would accommodate a rifle's muzzle. The pommel appears to be missing as well. According to my FIL, no one has even seen the blade in two or three generations because the darn leather sheath is stuck to the blade for some reason. It was probably damp when the blade was inserted and shrunk tight to the blade (that's only my guess).

The second sword in the second photo is easily the most substantial feeling and feels like what I thought a cutlass would feel like, though I am far from knowledgeable about swords. They would all clean up, but I doubt that would be wise being that I understand this sometimes destroys the value of other antiques.

I'll post some better pictures soon. I'll have my wife take them since she's the one with the good camera and vastly superior photography skills.

Thanks for all the information!

[hso]

Not a cutlass, but probably a heavy cavalry saber. What's it's weight?

[Snowdog]

Sorry, I forgot to answer the question in your first post, hso. The scabbard you're referring to is to the first sword in the first photo. It is the one that has a "presented to in 1895" engraving. The one below it has engraving as well, but I cannot read it as it's in some fancy writing. On the reverse has "US" engraved on it. I have a photo of that engraving if it would help.

Tomorrow, I'll try to get a better photo of the swords as well as some measurements and approximate weights (though I'll have to figure out how best to weigh them). I'd say what you called a heavy cavalry saber is about 3 pounds from memory but I could be off.

[ArfinGreebly]

The sabre in photo #2 closely resembles one I brought back from England. Picked it up in an antique shoppe sometime in late 1970 or early 1971.

A little heavy, but very well balanced. Mine had less rust, but yours has a better handle. The sharkskin (or whatever they used) looks to be completely intact.

Very nice piece.

[SpikeBayonet]

1st photo - middle sword is a US M1860 Staff & Field Officer's sword. Apparently there were a lot of these made/imported during the SP-AM War era, the "issue" version had a folding guard - but a lot of the commercial versions had a solid guard (BTW - I have one that is identical to the one in the pic).

[hso]

Take a look through here and see if any of these match. http://www.jjmilitaryantiques.com/catpage.asp?CategoryType=swrduspost http://arms2armor.com/store/ssantswords.html