Military Sword Patterns In Fraternal Society's Use

Jim McDougall · 11th July 2009, 11:59 PM

Great post Glen, and interesting photo.

The fraternal sword, long considered sort of an uninteresting costume element rather than a weapon worthy of collecting by many, has enjoyed a bit of a renaissance in the arms world.
Last March at Timonium I got a copy of "The American Fraternal Sword" by John D. Hamilton, Joe Marino and Jim Kaplan, published by Mowbray Publishing, the mainstay of weapons Americana along with "Man at Arms" magazine.

If I recall correctly, the first John D. Hamiliton article was published among the earliest volumes of Man at Arms, and was for many years the only standing reference on Masonic swords. In those days these fraternal swords would often be seen in antique shops in dusty piles of knick knacks and other unceremonious clutter.

The M1872 cavalry sabre was far too light to be effective as a weapon, and it seems were part of a European fashion oriented regulations for uniforms and weaponry. These were privately purchased, and the only stated use of them I found in the Hamilton, Marino, Kaplan book was on p.125, for mounted Knights of St. John in a sabre resembling the M1872. By this time swords were essentially regalia, so as Glen has stated, there were undoubtedly many variations.

All best regards,
Jim

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11th July 2009, 11:59 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,200	Great post Glen, and interesting photo. The fraternal sword, long considered sort of an uninteresting costume element rather than a weapon worthy of collecting by many, has enjoyed a bit of a renaissance in the arms world. Last March at Timonium I got a copy of "The American Fraternal Sword" by John D. Hamilton, Joe Marino and Jim Kaplan, published by Mowbray Publishing, the mainstay of weapons Americana along with "Man at Arms" magazine. If I recall correctly, the first John D. Hamiliton article was published among the earliest volumes of Man at Arms, and was for many years the only standing reference on Masonic swords. In those days these fraternal swords would often be seen in antique shops in dusty piles of knick knacks and other unceremonious clutter. The M1872 cavalry sabre was far too light to be effective as a weapon, and it seems were part of a European fashion oriented regulations for uniforms and weaponry. These were privately purchased, and the only stated use of them I found in the Hamilton, Marino, Kaplan book was on p.125, for mounted Knights of St. John in a sabre resembling the M1872. By this time swords were essentially regalia, so as Glen has stated, there were undoubtedly many variations. All best regards, Jim