Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 1st February 2021, 04:10 AM

Joe, finally got the detail on this,
"The Ames Sword Co." is a reprint of the 1885 Ames catalog by Stuart Mowbray at Man at Arms magazine. (2003).
In it, your sword is shown as #322 (p.110)

In "The American Fraternal Sword" (J.Marino; J.Kaplan, 2008) example #KM162 is shown (exact match) and by Hartley & Graham (that maker name was 1899 only).

#KM166 is the same as well, no makers name but date 1872. So we know the hilt with this motif was in use by that year. The scabbard has an extra carry ring lower down the scabbard.

Ames swords began making regalia swords around 1867, and in 1881 due to restructuring began marking blades AMES SWORD CO.

Therefore your sword is dated from the period prior to 1881 and as early as 1867 due to the mkgs being AMES MFG C.

The pommel is the circular Roman tent termed 'taberna'.
In Masonic regalia, closely parallel, the officers such as commanders and grand commanders used 'gold' mounts, while the ranks used silver.

It seems the symbolic devices in the hilts are not described as to singular meanings etc. in these references, but as suggested, this guy was probably an officer of the organization 1867-1881. Possibly contacting the Grand Lodge (422 Trade St. Winston Salem N.C. ) they might have records of him.
Masonic lodges have always been very helpful and their historians keen to work on these things.

1st February 2021, 04:10 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,746	Joe, finally got the detail on this, "The Ames Sword Co." is a reprint of the 1885 Ames catalog by Stuart Mowbray at Man at Arms magazine. (2003). In it, your sword is shown as #322 (p.110) In "The American Fraternal Sword" (J.Marino; J.Kaplan, 2008) example #KM162 is shown (exact match) and by Hartley & Graham (that maker name was 1899 only). #KM166 is the same as well, no makers name but date 1872. So we know the hilt with this motif was in use by that year. The scabbard has an extra carry ring lower down the scabbard. Ames swords began making regalia swords around 1867, and in 1881 due to restructuring began marking blades AMES SWORD CO. Therefore your sword is dated from the period prior to 1881 and as early as 1867 due to the mkgs being AMES MFG C. The pommel is the circular Roman tent termed 'taberna'. In Masonic regalia, closely parallel, the officers such as commanders and grand commanders used 'gold' mounts, while the ranks used silver. It seems the symbolic devices in the hilts are not described as to singular meanings etc. in these references, but as suggested, this guy was probably an officer of the organization 1867-1881. Possibly contacting the Grand Lodge (422 Trade St. Winston Salem N.C. ) they might have records of him. Masonic lodges have always been very helpful and their historians keen to work on these things. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 1st February 2021 at 04:22 AM.