The Early 19th Century American Naval Officer's Sword

British Pattern 1803 Flank Officer's Sword

Utilizing animal imagery to decorate swords is not uncommon.  Europeans did so for centuries.   Hunting swords, popular in the 16th - 18th centuries, are often adorned with dog or wolf pommels (the pommel is the butt of the sword, so to speak).   Many 18th century short swords (for foot officers)  and hangers (for foot soldiers) also have stylized animal heads for pommels.   The British lion head has always been a popular patriotic symbol of that nation.  While it appeared on many a flank officer's (light infantry or grenadier) sword between 1781 and 1802, in 1803 George III made the lionhead pommel part of an official British sword pattern (depicted above -- one of my favorite patterns).    

American military fashion of the early 19th century century followed that of Great British.  Adoption of British fashion is a bit ironic  given the conflicts fought by the nations.  Still, many early Americans considered themselves transplanted Englishman.  Many were former English colonists and some had served in the military with their English cousins.   Regardless, the British military in this time was a major world power -- and one to be emulated.  Hence it is not strange that early American sword styles follow those of Great Britain.  Naturally, the Americans replaced the symbol of British might, the lion, with that of American pride and strength, the eagle. 

The sword depicted above and in the pictures below is an American naval eagle head sword in the collection of Mississippi Department of Archives and History.  Last year I volunteered to  assist the MDAH by reviewing, commenting on and, where necessary, attempting to identify,  the swords in the state's vast collection.  I saw this sword for the first time last Fall and immediately became interested in it.   The use  eagle head pommels in America dates to the infancy of the Revolution.  Its heyday, however,  is between 1800 - 1850 period --- a time in which American military fashion ceased following that of Great Britain and instead adopted that of France.   The eagle was a symbol of ancient Rome.   It was adopted by the French Revolutionaries as symbol of republicanism.   Napoleon I, who first served as the leader of the French Republic before declaring himself L'Emporeur, carried forth the symbol inyo the First Empire.   In fact, French First Empire battle standards are referred to a "eagles.".  The  flag attached was important.  However, the gilded eagle perched on top of the pole was the object sacred to regimental pride.  While not really allies, the American government helped fund Napolean's wars through the Louisiana Purchase.  The Americans shared a bond with France dating back to the American Revolution.  Two nations were united, though not officially as allies, when the Uniteds States fought France's then mortal enemy, Great Britain, during the War if 1812.   I do not mean to insinuate that American popularity of the eagle head sword in the early to mid 19th century is merely French infatuation.  However, I do not believe that the bond between the countries can be ignored.   

I believe that this sword dates somewhere between 1812-1840, given the style of etching on the blade  and the width of the blade.   The width of the blade suggests to me that this sword originates from a time period when fighting by sword was a likelihood, not just  a possibility.   The later antebellum eagle heads swords appear to me to be for peacetime officers.  Their  as their blades tend to be more  narrow and  they look more suited for the ballroom rather than the battlefield.  The MDAH card references this sword as a pattern 1841 Naval Officer's Sword.  While it most certainly resembles the hilt of 1840s eagle heads, as stated above I believe that this sword is earlier,  also because  of the blade decoration.   The blade is hand etched with anchors and 13 stars in a circular pattern  as well as other military motifs and the style of script more closely resembles that seen on late 18th century and early 19th century swords.    The ornate furniture of its leather scabbard carries the same motif -- anchors and 13 stars.  

The blade of this particular sword is marked to the English cutler Jos. Rodgers and Sons, Sheffield.    Joseph Rodgers and Sons originated in the mid 18th century in Sheffield, England.  While it manufactured swords, the company is better known for its knives, including Bowies.  Jos. Rodgers and Sons remained in business until 1975, but in its later years  making more mundane blades  such as scissors and razor blades.  It is not strange that this sword was made by a. British company for American trade.  For centuries  British, French and German cutlers made swords for export.  Sheffield, England was a center for knife making, much as Solingen,Germany and Klingenthal, France are known for sword manufacturing.   Even after the ugliness of the Revolution, the sabre rattling of the impressment of sailors and the War of 1812, business was still business.

What interests me most  about this sword is how and why it came into the MDAH collection. Of course, donors can given anything they want and not every sword  in the collection has some relationship to Mississippi.   Was it the sword of a Mississippian that served in the United States Navy?  Did a former U.S. naval officer carry this sword when he served in the Confederate navy?    The catalog  card is silent as to who donated this sword and when it was acquired   It sure makes me wonder.............

My History as a Collector Part IV

In 1996, my wife and I moved to the Jackson area.  I started a new job.  I also started a new area in militaria collecting.

I had always been fascinated with British military tradition, but new very little about British military weapons and accoutrements outside of knowing that a Brown Bess is a British flintlock musket (little did I know that there are several models of the musket) and the British WWI and WWII era weapons and vehicles.  A new thing, called the Internet, changed all that.   In the infancy of dial up Internet, I found British militaria dealers that listed items or sale.  There were no pictures, only a written description.  Ordering an item was more than the simple click and pay that it is today.  I had to identify an item in which I had interest based upon written description, email the dealer to see if it was still available and, if so, request that pictures be emailed to me. If I liked the item, I attempted to negotiate a better price.  If a deal was reached, then I had to arrange for payment -- an international transaction.  Payment was typically by credit card -- a safer way to operate internationally in my opinion, because all purchases are somewhat insured.  If I didn't get the item, then I could dispute the charge.   Over the years, I became acquainted with one particular dealer in the United Kingdom.   As the Internet progressed, the dealer's  website technology improved and pictures were included with the description.  Pictures made things much more simple.  With this particular dealer, I developed a business relationship from which ensued a typical dialogue. For example:

Me:   Hello, Bob.  Do you still have item no. 354768, British pattern 1845 infantry sword, and, if so, what is your best price?
Dealer:  Hi Andre.  Yes the item is in stock.  Best price is £345 including shipping.
Me:  Thanks.  Let me think on it.
Dealer :  Okay. I'll hold it for you.

In most instances, we reached a deal and in case you are wondering, it takes about a week to get a sword England to Mississippi.   I did purchase from other dealers in the United Kingdom and France, but mainly from old faithful.  I am pleased to say that I never had a bad transaction with this dealer.  The few that I had that were unsatisfactory were rectified to my benefit.  The Internet allowed me to collect European  swords and firearms from the 19th, 18th and 17th centuries as well as a few uniforms and accoutrements.  At one point I had several British uniforms on mannequins in my office.  I'll admit that it was creepy.

The Internet also allowed me to connect with people who share my interest in old guns and swords.  I'm proud to say that I have made the acquaintance of one very knowledgeable people  from all over the world, some of them published authors on the subject of militaria collecting.  The Internet is not all good, though.   It is much easier pass off fakes when the buyer is making a decision based upon pictures.  I have not been immune to this problem.   Let me say that eBay is a great avenue to buy and sell.   It is  the world's largest garage sale, but  it is also a very dangerous place to buy antique militaria.   It was in an eBay transaction that I was swindled.

I have always like heavy cavalry swords, especially those from the 18th and early 19th centuries. Swords with huge, straight blades with basket hand guards that are meant for business appeal to me.   These swords, however, are expensive.     I had 18th century British baskethilted heavy swords and French heavy swords in my collection.  I wanted a German example.  I hoped to find one of the really cool examples bearing some Germanic noble's royal coat of arms incorporated in the hand guard.  I did some scant research to learn a little bit about what I wanted and decided that I would look for an 18th century pallasch--a German heavy sword.   The pattern originates to the to the 17th century, but I had seen  images of 18th and early 19th century German Kuirassiers, heavy cavalrymen wearing chest armour, armed with a pallasch.  I did an internet search,  hoping to find a dealer with a pallasch for sale, but couldn't find one.  I resorted to ebay and found one.  In my exuberance I forgot a cardinal rule of collecting.   You see, Internet buying is the pinnacle of buyer beware.  It should be the mountaintop of caution.   eBay is no different.  I have had numerous great ebay transactions. In all of those I knew what I  was doing.  Here I was in uncharted waters.   I didn't ask the question that my father asked me many years ago, "how do you know that it is real?"   I also forgot the other cardinal rule.  "If its too good to be true, then it is."  What I mean  is the the price was too low for what the item was purported to be.

What I bought came to be known as "the duck sword."   When I finally received the sword, I found that that it had an excessively heavy and inflexible blade.  I knew that something was amiss.  18th century swordsmiths were very good at their trade.  Genuine antique blades are well balanced and quite flexible.   An unbalanced sword is difficult to control.  An inflexible blade will break.  Knowing that an 18th century swordsmith probably would not turn out a product like this, I still rationalized that perhaps this sword was just not well made.  Actually, I had a  feeling that it had been made in either India or Pakistan in the 1980s.   I looked at the prized coat of arms in the guard  and found that it bore a poorly shaped duck with an equally unsophisticated crown over its head.  I did more Internet research, hoping in vain that this ugly coat was the cypher of some minor European royal.  Nope.  Nothing came up.  I ran it past my internet friends.  It was a duck sword.  At least it didn't cost that much.  I was able to return it, minus shipping both ways.

Its been nearly 20 years since I started this phase of my collecting.  I've  collected some amazing things.   No, I have not kept them all.  I've had to sell items to get other items, but I have had the opportunity to study them first hand where many people have only been able to read about them or look at pictures. I guess you can say that I have developed a broad knowledge base.  As my college advisor exclaimed when  he reviewed my transcript with my diverse coursework in history, art history, anthropology and business courses, "sh*t, you a renaissance man!"   Presently, I have returned to my collecting roots, so to speak.  Over the past 5 or so years, I have returned to Civil War collecting, after a brief time collecting WWII German firearms.  In my recent years in Civil War collecting, I've been fortunate to acquire both Union and Confederate swords and a few firearms.    Who knows what I will get into next.   I've always thought that it would be really cool to own a Roman legionnaire's short sword.   Hmmmmmmm....................

Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

The Burnside Carbine, Part II

A little break from my history as a collector.  I have received some questions from friends about how the Burnside carbine works.  That being he case, I've taken some photos of my carbine as well as some of a Burnside round that I picked up at a Civil War relic show this past February. Sorry that the pictures are a bit out of order.

This is a picture of the Burnside lock with the hammer at half cocked and primed. It is primed with a copper percussion cap.  Assuming that the trooper was ready to fire, at this stage he would simply have to pull the hammer to full cock, aim and squeeze the trigger. 

This photograph depicts the Burnside breach mechanism lowered with the hammer at half cock. Also depicted is a Burnside round.  The round is unique in its tapered design.   Notice the screw on the side of the receiver and the slanted groover on the breach block.  These were improvements added later in production to ensure quicker loading.  The guide screw ensures that the breach returns to its rightful place in the receiver -- no muss or fuss. 

 This picture depicts and overhead view of the Burnside carbine with the hammer at half cock and the  breach mechanism open.  the trooper would insert the round into the breach.  A small tube in the rear of the breach fits into the an open in the bottom of the round.  The tube at the base of the breach is connected to the nipple. 

Top view of the Burnside with the hammer at half cock and the breach mechanism closed.  This view shows the nipple.   

As I understand, the first model Burnside did not operate with a percussion cap.  Rather, it used the Maynard tape system which had the excellerent to fire the weapon on a roll of thin paper tape -- hence the name.   The first model also had a side lever which operated the breach instead of the lever inside the trigger guard.  Only a few hundred first models were produced and I've not been able to locate a picture of one.    

Hope this answers all the questions that you may, or ever will, have about how a Burnside carbine operates. 

My History as a Collector, Part III

I graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts in History  in 1992 (I had enough hours for minors in English, Art History and Anthropology -- my guidance counsellor called me a "Renaissance Man."  I said that I was qualified to be interesting at cocktail parties).   I obtained my Juris Doctorate (the fancy name for a law degree) from the same institution in 1995.   During that time period, my collecting was relatively light.   A few WWII rifles and some dabbling in German WWII medals was about it during undergrad.

During law school, I became friends with a classmate from Richmond, Virginia.   My friend, and his father, are  avid militaria collectors, but they most liked collecting Confederate memorabilia -- especially swords.   I hadn't thought much about CS swords up until then.   I knew about the US patterns and the prolific US makers and retailers such as Emerson & Silver, Horstmann  and Ames.   I  was now learning about  the CS makers such as Boyle & Gamble,  Louis Froehlich and Thomas, Griswold & Co. of New Orleans, Louisiana.    From my friend, I also learned a modern name that is very important in the world of CS edged weapon collecting -- William A. Albaugh, III.   Mr. Albaugh's books, especially Photographic Supplement to Confederate Swords,  are some of  the earliest works on the subject of CS arms, makers and retailiers.    They are must haves for any Civil War militaria collector's library.   While in law school, I did not really purchase any items, the exception being two German WWI cavalry sabres that my classmate's father sold to  me -- a great deal.   I married my wife, Elizabeth, midway through my second year.  Strange that a young couple, with one of us still in school, just doesn't have much income to allocate to militaria collecting.  What I could afford at this time were books.  Campaign and battle histories were not my focus.    What I actively sought and purchased were reference books.   I obtained and studied reference books on the subject of  arms, accountrements and uniforms such as those by Mr. Albaugh.   I devoured any reference book with detailed pictures and/or period photographs.  I studied them over and over.  In fact I still do.  Elizabeth gives me grief about not actually reading anything. She says that I just look at the same pictures all the time.  I cannot deny it.   I will tell you this, reference books are expensive, but necessary.  They are expensive I guess, because there are just a few strange individuals like me that want them.   I'd rather spend $50 to $100 on a good reference  book than lose $500+  on a bad purchase.   Of course, the internet has hurt the reference book business, but I will warn new collectors about the internet.  Believe it or not, but not everything on the internet is accurate or true (ironic that I'm posting this on the internet, ain't it?).

After I graduated from law school in 1995, I decided to reward myself with a purchase.   Using my new found knowledge and North SouthTrader magazine, I identified several dealers and started my quest for the item that I wanted -- an 1850 pattern U.S. foot officer's sword.   In 1995, militaria dealers attended Civil War shows, had shops open to the public  or offered mail order.  Some provided photographic catalogs, but those that did printed their catalogs only a few times per year.   Just because it is pictured in the catalog doesn't mean that its still available for purchase.  In 1995, Memphis, Tennessee was the site of  the MidSouth Civil War Show (the show still takes place, but in Southaven, Mississippi).  I was living in Holly Springs, Mississippi at the time and could go to the show to make my purchase,  but the show wasn't until February.   It was May and I was eager to take the plunge.     From my law school friend, I learned only a few dealers' names and  most were in Virginia.  I wasn't getting up there any time soon.   I would have to rely upon mail order.

I found a few dealers in the magazine and started calling.    It shocked me how many of them  did not have what I wanted.  However, I eventually found the sword for which I was looking through a well known dealer in Gettysburg, Pennslyvania.     I paid $500.00 in 1995 for my first US Civil War era officer's sword.  It arrived in July of 1995 just in time for the bar exam.    The sword lacked the markings of any well known maker or retailer.  I was most likely a European made import, but  the blade was beautifully etched with "US" on one side and "E Pluribus Unum" with an eagle on the other -- true signs that it was intended for the US market (mostly likely it was etched in the United States.   As an added bonus it had its original scabbard.   It was not perfect.   It missed a patch or two of its fishskin grip wrap and the leather scabbard was dry and cracked, but it was a significant purchase for me.   Today, I would imagine that the same sword would sell in the $800 - $1000 range.

Looking back on my this time of my life, I see how I grew as a collector.   I learned about the importance of research.   There are fakes and forgeries everywhere, so you better know what you are doing.   I also learned how difficult it can be to locate the item for which you are looking.  There simply aren't any "Swords R Us" stores around.   Finally, I learned that it takes a bit of courage to:  (1) purchase something of signficant value sight unseen, or based solely upon a few measly photos,   (2) trust your instincts, (3) trust the reputation of a quality dealer and (4) trust the U.S. Postal Service to get the item to you and in an undamaged condition  (which of the four would scare you the most?).    It was about to get a lot more scary.  I was about to take the plunge into much deeper pools.  Actually, as our English brothern would say, my next foray into collecting took me "across the pond."

I know that this history is probably getting a bit boring for the readers, but quite frankly I've never really thought about how I got into this hobby and I'm enjoying reminising and writing about my journey.   There is more to come, but I'll try to intermix and item or two in the midst of my history.