Sword

[rob118]

Would like some help identifying this sword.

My father first remembers seeing the sword back in the mid to late 50's when an uncle gave it to him.

There appears to be an impression of 17. in the handle. I've tried to show this in picture #1.

There is an inscription on the blade but unfortunately all but a few semilegible letters remain. I can see a 41 in the inscription but have no idea if this relates to a date.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

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[boomer]

rob, this is a guess, it looks like a marine corp nco sword. the 17 may stand for the 17th engineers, composed of the 1st, 5th and 7th Marines as infantry, the 11th Marines as artillery and the 17th Marines as engineers. but to be sure you need to contact a marine unit in your area. see if there is a marine recruitment station close by. but if you go there, never raise your hand and say i do. good luck. boomer

 

[rob118]

Thanks for the reply Boomer. At the very least you've given me a good place to start in identifying the sword.

In the meantime I thought of a couple other questions since I posted this...

Is there a good way to date a sword like this?

Is there a chance it could be a civil war replica sword? I don't have any expertise in reenactments but it would seem some number of replicas would have to be made in order to outfit the participants. Just a thought...

Thanks again Boomer. As always any help is appreciated.

 

[boomer]

Rob, the fact that it has the number 17 on it and it looks like the number 41 on it, a replica sword i don't feel would have this. there is a chance that the number 41 may be the year the unit was formed. check on the history of the units there must be something in the library or internet on the units 1st, 5th and 7th Marines, 11th artillery and 17th engineers. most units keep a log of there actions. check for combat units of ww11 and korea. boomer

 

[beetle662]

I don't know anything about the sword, but on the advice of taking it to a local marine recruiting center... I would definitely use caution. I would not recommend strolling through the parking lot and walking into a recruiting station without first explaining to the recruiter your intentions. Just a common sense idea (which I'm sure you have) that could be easily forgotten in one's haste!

Good luck!