rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Carrying an old leather case that appeared to have a sword hilt sticking out of it!
So, being the curious sort of guy I am? (I just can't help it!)
I very cautiously went over and ask him what it was.
'Great-Granddads old Civil War sword he fought the good fight at Gettysburg with!' he proudly told me!
'Can I see it?' I ask.
Sure?
So he whips out a gleaming sword in the middle of a crowed restaurant on Saturday night!
Turns out it was an old Henderson-Ames Knights Of Pythias Ceremony Sword in most excellent condition.
About like this, only better made, fancier, and much better condition!
And Ivory handle instead of black.
Must have been the Grand-Pubah's Exalted Sword?
http://www.orangepawnshop.com/antiq...abbord-leather-case-by-henderson-ames-co.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_Pythias
Not a cheap stamped out blade either.
Fully acid etch engraved, gold filled, and what might very well have been a real ivory handle!
(To dark for me too see well enough to tell for sure, but if it wasn't real ivory, it was very very good imitation ivory for the time.)
But in perfect condition.
The engraved metal sheath and the cloth bag were hopelessly stuck down inside the leather case.
I got that out using two table forks as tweezers / tongs!
(I had a whole crowd looking over my shoulders before I pulled it all out!)
Again, the metal sheath and cloth bag still in perfect shape, with the guys name engraved on the scabbard.
I gave him a brief history of it, and told him it wasn't civil war, but late 1800 - early 1900.
I also told him it was only worth 1/20th as much as the price he told me it was worth.
Bummer!
But he seemed to accepted my appraisal.
He said the family history of it must have gone askew years ago.
Turns out, He brought it to the restaurant to pass it on to his 30-something grandson with the rest of the family present to witness it.
So the grandson opened the case, pulled it out far enough to see the pommel, took a glance at it, then stuffed it back in the case.
And laid it on the floor under his table with the pointy end of the case setting on a table leg 4" off the floor.
And the handle end sticking out in the aisle with people stepping over or tripping over it all during the meal.
Looks like it made it 100 years in perfect condition, but may not make it through tonight without getting stepped on and bent hopelessly beyond repair!
Anyway, my $20.00 steak dinner got cold before I got to eat it!
But it was worth it!!!!
rc
So, being the curious sort of guy I am? (I just can't help it!)
I very cautiously went over and ask him what it was.
'Great-Granddads old Civil War sword he fought the good fight at Gettysburg with!' he proudly told me!
'Can I see it?' I ask.
Sure?
So he whips out a gleaming sword in the middle of a crowed restaurant on Saturday night!
Turns out it was an old Henderson-Ames Knights Of Pythias Ceremony Sword in most excellent condition.
About like this, only better made, fancier, and much better condition!
And Ivory handle instead of black.
Must have been the Grand-Pubah's Exalted Sword?
http://www.orangepawnshop.com/antiq...abbord-leather-case-by-henderson-ames-co.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_Pythias
Not a cheap stamped out blade either.
Fully acid etch engraved, gold filled, and what might very well have been a real ivory handle!
(To dark for me too see well enough to tell for sure, but if it wasn't real ivory, it was very very good imitation ivory for the time.)
But in perfect condition.
The engraved metal sheath and the cloth bag were hopelessly stuck down inside the leather case.
I got that out using two table forks as tweezers / tongs!
(I had a whole crowd looking over my shoulders before I pulled it all out!)
Again, the metal sheath and cloth bag still in perfect shape, with the guys name engraved on the scabbard.
I gave him a brief history of it, and told him it wasn't civil war, but late 1800 - early 1900.
I also told him it was only worth 1/20th as much as the price he told me it was worth.
Bummer!
But he seemed to accepted my appraisal.
He said the family history of it must have gone askew years ago.
Turns out, He brought it to the restaurant to pass it on to his 30-something grandson with the rest of the family present to witness it.
So the grandson opened the case, pulled it out far enough to see the pommel, took a glance at it, then stuffed it back in the case.
And laid it on the floor under his table with the pointy end of the case setting on a table leg 4" off the floor.
And the handle end sticking out in the aisle with people stepping over or tripping over it all during the meal.
Looks like it made it 100 years in perfect condition, but may not make it through tonight without getting stepped on and bent hopelessly beyond repair!
Anyway, my $20.00 steak dinner got cold before I got to eat it!
But it was worth it!!!!
rc
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