Share your favorites on Show & Tell

1840/1906 Hollywood Frankensword

In Military and Wartime > Swords > Show & Tell.
Recent activity173169 of 237900U.S. 1850 Style Foot Officer’s Sword with Movie ConnectionSmall carved table
5
Love it
0
Like it

MilitaristMilitarist loves this.
DrFluffyDrFluffy loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
officialfuelofficialfuel loves this.
aghcollectaghcollect loves this.
See 3 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 9 years ago

    Chrisnp
    (310 items)

    As I mentioned in last week’s post, Western Costume Company was the major supplier of costumes to the big name studios during Hollywood’s golden era. Back then, it bought surplus swords rather than manufacture reproductions for props. They had no problem altering swords or swapping out parts to fit whatever place or era the film was set in.

    The most peculiar thing about this sword is the blade. It’s a US Model 1906 sword blade made by “A.S.Co.” (Ames Sword Company), complete with the “US” and inspectors mark “JC” (J. Clancy) on the other side. But those blades were curved like previous US cavalry sabers, and this one is straight! Here’s the weird thing – Western Costume actually found it worthwhile to have a bunch of curved sword blades straightened! If you look closely at the final photo, you can see how the blade warped in the process! I’m sure milling and labor costs would be prohibitive for that today. I can’t find the reference anymore, but I recall reading that this was done for a film that depicted a WWI cavalry charge. (Cavalry swords used on both sides were straight by then.)

    The 1906 sword also had a steel, rather than brass hilt, which was shaped like the Model 1860 sword I previously posted. Western Costume replaced the steel hilt with a brass one, and in the process used the grips from and 1840 style saber. The leather is gone, but if you look closely, you can see some remaining string between the wire wrap. This was used under the leather in the 19th century to give the grip its raised bumps between the wire wraps.

    logo
    Swords
    See all
    [GN1-03-4-41] Japanese Sword: NBTHK Kinmichi Katana in Shirasaya + Koshirae
    [GN1-03-4-41] Japanese Sword: NBTHK...
    $2,025
    [GN1-03-4-39] Japanese Sword: NBTHK Mihara Katana in Tachi Koshirae
    [GN1-03-4-39] Japanese Sword: NBTHK...
    $1,775
    [GN1-03-4-40] Japanese Sword: NBTHK Tegai Katana in Shirasaya + Koshirae
    [GN1-03-4-40] Japanese Sword: NBTHK...
    $1,700
    WWII ARMY OFFICERS JAPANESE OLD KATANA SWORD WITH SCABBARD SIGNED HIDEYOSHI
    WWII ARMY OFFICERS JAPANESE OLD KAT...
    $230
    logo
    [GN1-03-4-41] Japanese Sword: NBTHK Kinmichi Katana in Shirasaya + Koshirae
    [GN1-03-4-41] Japanese Sword: NBTHK...
    $2,025
    See all

    Comments

    1. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 9 years ago
      Chris, I'm not a real patient man. Do I have to fly up there tomorrow & shake it out of you? LOL!
    2. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 9 years ago
      No guesses yet? Awwww.
    3. scottvez scottvez, 9 years ago
      At first, I thought it was the M1906 Cavalry sword, but your example has a straight blade and brass hilt, so I am not sure.

      I'd say M1860 hilt (shows a lot of age with the wrap worn off) on a more modern blade.

      scott
    4. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 9 years ago
      You are on the right track, Scott
    5. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 9 years ago
      Made in CA by latinos? J.C.= made in Japan by Chinese? "Me not kno mon!
    6. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 9 years ago
      Thanks all - now on to the real post for this week!

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.