I picked up this sword a couple years ago and I am just now starting to dig into the history of it.
Its Old. Very old. Scabbard is Brass with what I think is *silver?* Not sure what the blade is, It had a black tarnish on it when i found it. But along its length there are beautiful and intricately etched patterns (too faint for my camera to pick up but easy for the eye). The Hilt and guard are a Dark wood(?) and some metal that makes a white tarnish(?).
I had assumed it was a Knights of Columbus sword and took it into my priest to see if any of the KOC could learn anything about it. They told me what it was in fact a masonic sword.
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On top there is The Helmet of St. John the Crusader. and several Ornate Crosses laid into the wood and both sides of the guard.
Just above the guard on the blade is etched:
J.D. Caldwell,
Cincinnati, O
Now all I Found some info on who this J.D. Caldwell may be.
His name is on the List of American Sword Makers on the Antique Swords of America Site. Swords Of America - Antique Sword makers of America!
There is an Article about a J.D. Caldwell from the New York Times in 1886 where he was named Grand secretary of the Ohio Masons
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A05E5D61E30E533A25752C2A9669D94679FD7CF
And another Article about a J.D. Caldwell also from the Times in 1879 about his helping in correspondence Between Gen. Grant of the Union army and His Father.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F02E1DE113EE73BBC4D52DFB4678382669FDE
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At the Top of the Scabbard There is an image of an Knight at the entrance to a tent surounded by what looks like an encampment.
Below that there is a Cross inside a Crown with "Be Thou Faithful unto Death and I will give thee a crown of life" surrounding it, Which is Revelations 2:10 as read from the King James Version
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Below that the letters appear the letters JAF. No idea what that means. could be initials? my google fu failed me on this one.
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Lower there is an image of an old man wearing a large cross walking with a stick. He is carrying something like a stick or scroll.
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And i have no Idea what these markings at the bottom of the sword are...
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Also on the back in three places there is the number 19 (or the numbers 1 and 9)
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Wow that was a long one. If you are still with me Thanks a lot.
I've pretty much exhausted my resources (reached the limits of my google-tec) and i'm not quite sure what to do now.
I'd like to find the history of this thing. Possibly who it belonged to, who made it, why?, what do all those symbols mean, and last but not least...How much is it worth???
So far in my search i have dug up Famous Masons, Rich Dead Ohioians, and Civil war Generals.
Anyone have any knowledge or insight? Know anyone who knows anything about these things? Or, if all fails, knows when Antiques Roadshow is coming through town???
Thanks So Much Everyone. If just for reading my little novel.
Its Old. Very old. Scabbard is Brass with what I think is *silver?* Not sure what the blade is, It had a black tarnish on it when i found it. But along its length there are beautiful and intricately etched patterns (too faint for my camera to pick up but easy for the eye). The Hilt and guard are a Dark wood(?) and some metal that makes a white tarnish(?).
I had assumed it was a Knights of Columbus sword and took it into my priest to see if any of the KOC could learn anything about it. They told me what it was in fact a masonic sword.
------------------------------------
On top there is The Helmet of St. John the Crusader. and several Ornate Crosses laid into the wood and both sides of the guard.
Just above the guard on the blade is etched:
J.D. Caldwell,
Cincinnati, O
Now all I Found some info on who this J.D. Caldwell may be.
His name is on the List of American Sword Makers on the Antique Swords of America Site. Swords Of America - Antique Sword makers of America!
There is an Article about a J.D. Caldwell from the New York Times in 1886 where he was named Grand secretary of the Ohio Masons
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A05E5D61E30E533A25752C2A9669D94679FD7CF
And another Article about a J.D. Caldwell also from the Times in 1879 about his helping in correspondence Between Gen. Grant of the Union army and His Father.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F02E1DE113EE73BBC4D52DFB4678382669FDE
----------------------------------
At the Top of the Scabbard There is an image of an Knight at the entrance to a tent surounded by what looks like an encampment.
Below that there is a Cross inside a Crown with "Be Thou Faithful unto Death and I will give thee a crown of life" surrounding it, Which is Revelations 2:10 as read from the King James Version
------------------------
Below that the letters appear the letters JAF. No idea what that means. could be initials? my google fu failed me on this one.
--------------------------------
Lower there is an image of an old man wearing a large cross walking with a stick. He is carrying something like a stick or scroll.
------------------------------------
And i have no Idea what these markings at the bottom of the sword are...
-------------------------------------
Also on the back in three places there is the number 19 (or the numbers 1 and 9)
---------------------------
Wow that was a long one. If you are still with me Thanks a lot.
I've pretty much exhausted my resources (reached the limits of my google-tec) and i'm not quite sure what to do now.
I'd like to find the history of this thing. Possibly who it belonged to, who made it, why?, what do all those symbols mean, and last but not least...How much is it worth???
So far in my search i have dug up Famous Masons, Rich Dead Ohioians, and Civil war Generals.
Anyone have any knowledge or insight? Know anyone who knows anything about these things? Or, if all fails, knows when Antiques Roadshow is coming through town???
Thanks So Much Everyone. If just for reading my little novel.