I purchased this and another Freemason sword at the living estate sale of an elderly gentleman who was a 32nd degree member of the Shriners Knights Templar and Freemason organization. He told me this sword was about 100 years old and that it had been passed down from lodge member to lodge member for years to those who couldn't afford to purchase a new sword within the lodge. He said that normally a new sword sold for around $500. He said this sword and the other one that I will be listing in a separate auction were given to him within the organization. I guess he didn't have anyone to pass them down to, so he sold them at his living estate sale.
The fellow told me that the ornate etchings you see upon the blade is done in gold and that when the blade is polished the sword is beautiful. I will leave the polishing to the new owner's discretion and am selling it as I found it because I don't want to take any chances of harming it in any way.
The handle appears to be made of either wood or bone, possibly from a tusk. I'm a novice, so I will leave this for those of you who are more avid collectors to decide for sure. There is a silver cross inlayed upon one side of the handle as well. I hope the pictures I've provided show the wonderfully ornate designs upon the blade as they are very well done displaying different scenes of knights in battle upon their horses, etc. The original owner's name is also engraved upon the blade. His name appears to be "Wm R Dandegrift". There are crosses in crowns and knights holding flags, etc, among the engravings.
The sword is engraved that it was made by the "The M.C. Lilley and Co., Columbus, Ohio". There is a 5 pointed star with a cross and the letters spelling TEXAS found in each point of the 5 pointed star upon the handle.
The sword measures approximately 37 1/2 inches long from the tip of the blade to the top of the knight's feather plume at the handle. It is 5 3/8 inches wide at the widest point across the handle.
The PHOTOS are a part of the description, so be sure to view them carefully. PLEASE EXAMINE THESE PHOTOS AS YOU WOULD THE ITEM IF IT WERE IN YOUR HANDS. If you have any questions, please ask.
Domestic postal insurance is included with the shipping cost of this pkg to anywhere within the US!
I am selling lots of other wonderful collectables I purchased at 4 different estate sales this week, including vintage radios, guitars, dolls, shawnee cookie jar & salt and pepper sets, depression glass & much more this week as well! Please view all of my auctions as I will be adding more daily!
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