Dmitry

Thankyou Dmitry. Very nice to have a definite identification. Do you think it could have been taken in Ethiopia ? I expect the Bersegliari were there ?

That is correct.

This is a bersaglieri nco sword ca.1930-1940.

From London Gazette 7th September 1906

"Clerk Basil Ashmore Stinton has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Paymaster in His Majesty's Fleet. Dated 10th August, 1906"

From 1908 Navy List

"Cumberland (Training ship for cadets), 9800 tons, H.P. 22,000

Assist Paym Basil A. Stinton"

From Royal Navy (MOD) website

"The 14th Cumberland was a 14 gun, twin screw cruiser, launched at Govan, Glasgow in 1902. She displaced 9800 tonnes, produced 22000 horsepower and had a top speed of 23 knots. In January 1913, while commanded by Captain Aubrey C H Smith, Cumberland deployed to the West Indies, where amongst the cadets onboard was HRH Prince Albert, the second son of His Majesty King George the fifth. In 1914, the Ship was involved in operations in the Cameroons and the surrender of Duala. The Ship was paid off and sold in Queenstown in 1921"

Gents,

I just bought a nice 1827P RN Officer's sword, that is, rather uncommonly, marked on a folding counter-guard B.A. STINTON, RN.

Dating the sword was easy, ca.1900-1906, based on the maker's cartouche,

j.gieve & sons

portsmouth, london &

devonport

Blade is probably a Wilkinson.

Any way to determine the glorious exploits of the owner?

I live in a grove of the same impervious oak she's made out of, and can testify from a lifetime's experience that the wretched things are the very devil to attempt to cut.

You must live somewhere in Georgia or South Carolina.

The USS CONSTITUTION was... a great threat to our Navy.

Yes, those ballistic missiles she carried could've done some major damage!!

No need to make a mountain out of a mole-hill...

Consult SABRES PORTES PAR L'ARMEE FRANCAISE, by Jean LHOSTE & Patrick RESEK.

Some one said it was a U.S. Texas dragoon star and wreath? I find it hard to belive but can not give any other explanation?

Hi,

There's always that "someone"...

This saber is absolutely in the style of the French AN XI Light Cavalry officer's swords. The presence of the star may mean something, or it may not. I would [provisionally, for the lack of better photos] date it ca.1810-1820. A Restoration period back piece would've had the three Bourbon fleur de lis, where your star is, but I would think it wasn't mandatory, since these were private purchase items for the officers. Additionally, some remaining Napoleonic swords un-offensive to the new "old" Regime in their decorations, i.e. lacking the letter N, Eagle, Liberty Caps, various unacceptable inscriptions, etc. , were also worn by the officer's who remained in the Army after Waterloo.

Good call, Jonathan!

It's nice piece, and obviously not a cavalry sword, having a 70 cm-long blade it couldn't be, could it?!

They are not common, but then again, not too many cutlasses are, as a rule of thumb.

The sword could be of British or American manufacture as stated. I have seen these commonly listed as artillery sabers and dated anywhere between about 1800 and 1830. Dmitry, a keen collector of early American swords, would probably be able say a bit more about it or correct me. I will point-out this thread to him.

Jonathan

Jonathan, I can't add much more to what you have already written.

This sword is similar to an American mounted artillery NCO saber from the first quarter of the 19th century.

Is anyone else but me bothered by the description of a paddy wagon door being made out of canvas?!

oops-my bad. 1825 then.

Source was memory from a very old Traditions magazine and a Military Modeling article: elephantine memory (often wrong).

Thanks for the tip. I've got a bunch of the old Traditions magazines in my garage. Will browse them, see if anything comes up.

Size is roughly 21 cm x 21 cm. Do you have a reference for the "Russian Palace Grenadier Guard" uniforms? The Decembrist Revolt took part in 1825. The Palace Grenadier company was formed in 1827, from the veterans of the War of 1812. Thank you for the lead. I'll try to reserach this further.

Hello, gents.

Have had this piece for a while, but gave up on trying to ID the country of origin. At first I guessed Imperial Russia, but looking in my books, nothing similar came up. Perhaps you could help?

Thanks!

Honorably Discharged patch, indicating the man had been discharged from the Navy but was authorized to wear his uniform until he was home and able to acquire civilian clothes.

That was quick! Thank you!

I just showed the photo to a WWII USN vet, and he said this patch was commonly known as a RUPTURED DUCK.

Not sure on value, possibly ?200-?400;

Realistic price is about $150 max, in this condition. It's a levee-type sword, worn for dress occasions, with a thin and weak blade.

Hello, gents.

I've searched for a bit, but couldn't find this exact pattern. It's sewn onto a USN tunic of a Motor Machinist 2nd Class, along with an Amfibious Landing patch.