View Single Post
Old 14th September 2009, 06:40 AM   #5
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,758
Default

Another thought that might provide attribution would be if markings or symbols associated with the Mormon faith appeared on either any regulation weapon as described previously, or personal weapons of the period.

In 1854, a board established by Brigham Young had proposed a phonetically structured alphabet as shown here. While this did not find wide use or acceptance, its presence was well established as seen by the coin issued in 1860.
The illustration of the characters are from an 1868 book, but with Brigham Young's death in 1877, the use of the Deseret alphabet diminished and fell out of use.

Another potential device which might be considered would be the beehive symbol. Although I have not ever seen this on a weapon, it is much like the angel of Moroni, significant to the Mormons. The beehive represented 'deseret' which described in the Book of Mormon (Ether 2:3) means bees or beehive, and this was chosen for the name of thier state.

Again, purely speculative suggestions, presuming that some individuals might have been compelled to place such markings on weapons, and hoping that anyone might have information to add.
Attached Images
  
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote