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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ladybranch, post: 81851, member: 44&quot;]Sometimes the name of the sword maker is located at the exposed top of the blade (the Ricasso - unsharpened area), just below the guard (Quillon). Yours appears to have a short rain-guard just below the cross-guard that may be covering the maker&#039;s name. The spread eagle pommel doesn&#039;t appear to be a Masonic type pommel. To be perfectly honest, nothing on the hilt (pommel, grip, cross-guard, rain guard) speaks of a fraternal order at least to me. See below for info on IDing Fraternal order swords.</p><p><br /></p><p>Most US military swords generally have some type of D-guard (helps protect the hand) rather than just a cross-guard. I tend to agree with Kristiaan for decorative purposes; however, possibly pics of both sides of the blade might give a clue. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilt#/media/File:Sword_parts-en.svg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilt#/media/File:Sword_parts-en.svg" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilt#/media/File:Sword_parts-en.svg</a></p><p><a href="http://arms2armor.com/Swords/cavshilt.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://arms2armor.com/Swords/cavshilt.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://arms2armor.com/Swords/cavshilt.jpg</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Fraternal swords:</p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Fraternal+swords&amp;tbm=isch&amp;tbo=u&amp;source=univ&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0CD4Q7AlqFQoTCNuZnp2LjcgCFchcPgodWcMAUw&amp;biw=1024&amp;bih=591" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Fraternal+swords&amp;tbm=isch&amp;tbo=u&amp;source=univ&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0CD4Q7AlqFQoTCNuZnp2LjcgCFchcPgodWcMAUw&amp;biw=1024&amp;bih=591" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/search?q=Fraternal+swords&amp;tbm=isch&amp;tbo=u&amp;source=univ&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0CD4Q7AlqFQoTCNuZnp2LjcgCFchcPgodWcMAUw&amp;biw=1024&amp;bih=591</a></p><p><br /></p><p>--- Susan</p><p><br /></p><p>Identifying Fraternal Order swords:</p><p>&quot;Fraternal swords are most easily identified by the ornate, yet martially useless nature of their construction. Although this also describes many officer&#039;s swords, the nature of their decoration sets them apart. The pommels, hilts and scabbards are often exquisitely detailed with forms relating to their society, and the blades are often etched for most of their length. Common etched motifs include knights, middle-east scenes, Samson, and military displays. The blades are usually straight, always unsharpened, and are quite flexible&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;Some of the more common features of these swords include a cast, decorative pommel (often a knight&#039;s head), initials of some sort on the hilt and/or scabbard, the owner&#039;s name etched into the blade, and fraternal markings to identify which group the owner belongs to. The swords also are usually etched with the maker&#039;s name, often such well-known makers of military swords as Ames, Roby, Pettibone, and Emerson &amp; Silver. While all these names are desirable in weapons, they do little to improve upon the value of these swords.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.angelfire.com/wa/swordcollector/fraternal.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.angelfire.com/wa/swordcollector/fraternal.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.angelfire.com/wa/swordcollector/fraternal.html</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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