Hello, this might shock you and its probably not the response you expected... I too live in Indianapolis and I have almost the exact same sword: yours is in better condition though. My Father took the sword and lost the case after he moved out when I was a child. When I later visited him, I asked to have the sword. After all I did find it. He said yes, but I had to promised my Father I would never sell it. It's starting to get a little rusty and I'm not sure how to make it stop. I would love to find out the history behind these beautiful swords. I found the sword in a coal room in our old house on the east side of Indianapolis when I was 7yrs old. Mine has the initials F.E. engraved on the cross at the T of the handle and Indian or tribal markings on both sides of the blade. Where your is like a woven pattern at the T; mine has slashes. In the same basement where I found this sword; at age 15 I experienced a full bodied apparition. If that wasn't shocking enough the man had a matching dagger of the sword... I never went back into that basement again but I now live across the street from my childhood home. I've been fascinated with swords and ghost's ever since. I don't know you and I wished we could meet in person and compare them. Go to KristenReckert@facebook.com to see the sword. I made the pictures public.
**True statements. We're, in fact, very careful about cleaning the blood off the blades.
I would almost take issue with the statement that the "Knights Templar are.. ..the most important Masonic organization in the United States." That would be Blue Lodge.
I considered both York and Scottish early on and felt more led to Scottish Rite.
Cool find on the sword. Purely ceremonial and, like most Masonic regalia, not particularly valuable to those outside the Brotherhood. However, it is a nice example and think you did well.