American or British?

kronckew · 30th August 2017, 07:41 PM

that hilt, side branches removed looks exactly like mine, even down to the minor details, including the wire wrap impressions on mine matching the wire on the french one. i noted some indistinct roughness at the blade/guard junction i thought may have been some small markings on mine too. i won't remove the stable black gunk covering the area tho.

the french sent a large number of troops to aid the american continentals, and were present in large numbers at yorktown in 1781. possible it was damaged and repaired and reissued to the continentals who couldn't afford to waste it. my blade is 5 in. longer and fullered of course, but could be a dragoon/light cavalry variant.

ah, if only they could talk....

you may have cracked the enigma open. or at least part of it. thanks.

Will M · 30th August 2017, 08:02 PM

The time period fits and Americans did have shortages of arms and not the tech to make good blades so they imported these mostly.
Could very well be used as you suggest.

kronckew · 30th August 2017, 08:48 PM

i was an american Coast Guard officer, took 3 months training in search and rescue and marine safety at the USG facility at yorktown, drove thru the battlefield every day morning and evening, you could feel the presence. especially if it was a tad foggy. i also spent a lot of time crtawling all over it and the remaining fortifications when i could get away from the wife (she was british). the war didn't finish until 4 years after yorktown, so they still needed supplies of weapons. it took a while after yorktown for them to figure out that it was costing them a fortune, and that they'd never win, they finally bit the bullet and pulled out. took the war of 1812 for them to finally get the message tho. they still thought they could whup us in new orleans with the finest troops in europe that had just defeated nappy.

after yorktown, i then went to NOLA where i spent 3 years as a marine inspector at the USCG marine safety office there. spent a few days roaming over the chalmette battle field there where we (and some more frenchies) whupped the brits again in newyears 1814/15, due to communications lag, it was fought actually AFTER the war ended... it may have wended it's way down to there as well.

however, i'll think of this sword as my 'yorktown' sword.

30th August 2017, 07:41 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	that hilt, side branches removed looks exactly like mine, even down to the minor details, including the wire wrap impressions on mine matching the wire on the french one. i noted some indistinct roughness at the blade/guard junction i thought may have been some small markings on mine too. i won't remove the stable black gunk covering the area tho. the french sent a large number of troops to aid the american continentals, and were present in large numbers at yorktown in 1781. possible it was damaged and repaired and reissued to the continentals who couldn't afford to waste it. my blade is 5 in. longer and fullered of course, but could be a dragoon/light cavalry variant. ah, if only they could talk.... you may have cracked the enigma open. or at least part of it. thanks. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 30th August 2017 at 08:13 PM.

30th August 2017, 08:48 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	i was an american Coast Guard officer, took 3 months training in search and rescue and marine safety at the USG facility at yorktown, drove thru the battlefield every day morning and evening, you could feel the presence. especially if it was a tad foggy. i also spent a lot of time crtawling all over it and the remaining fortifications when i could get away from the wife (she was british). the war didn't finish until 4 years after yorktown, so they still needed supplies of weapons. it took a while after yorktown for them to figure out that it was costing them a fortune, and that they'd never win, they finally bit the bullet and pulled out. took the war of 1812 for them to finally get the message tho. they still thought they could whup us in new orleans with the finest troops in europe that had just defeated nappy. after yorktown, i then went to NOLA where i spent 3 years as a marine inspector at the USCG marine safety office there. spent a few days roaming over the chalmette battle field there where we (and some more frenchies) whupped the brits again in newyears 1814/15, due to communications lag, it was fought actually AFTER the war ended... it may have wended it's way down to there as well. however, i'll think of this sword as my 'yorktown' sword. Last edited by kronckew; 30th August 2017 at 09:03 PM.

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30th August 2017, 08:02 PM	#2
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 406	The time period fits and Americans did have shortages of arms and not the tech to make good blades so they imported these mostly. Could very well be used as you suggest.