Just got this from my dad.

[mower131]

Got this sword from my late fathers stuff. trying to identify it. Any help will be greatly appreciated

 

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[vpnavy]

1st - I noticed this was your very first post - so, Welcome Aboard mower131! You didn't list your state (or country) in your profile. So, you might consider jumping over to Sub-Forum: Select Your Area.... and selecting location information (i.e., clubs, hunts, finds, legends, maps, etc.) directly related to your state (or country).

2nd - One good picture of the entire "sword" would be very helpful (plus measurements)...

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I'm far from being an expert on swords, but my first impression is that this is a Masonic sword.

I'm thinking that 'Stephens' must've been your father.

Here are some of your best identifying clues... hopefully someone here will know what you've got.

Dave

 

[DCMatt]

Order of the Sons of Saint George.

Cool sword!

Order of Sons of St. George[FONT=&quot]

This fraternal secret society was composed of Englishmen and their descendants. Apparently, when founded in 1871 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the society was meant to resist the activities of Molly Maguires. Members were required to believe in a supreme being, have high regard for the Bible, and be loyal to America. The history and martyrdom of St. George served as the bases of the society’s ritual.
Soon after its founding it settled down into an ethnic fraternal benefit society for Englishmen in America and their sons and grandsons, with sick benefits, funeral benefits, and so forth. Eligibility was limited to first-, second-, and third-generation Englishmen.
There was the initiatory degree and there were two higher degrees, which were adopted by the Supreme Lodge in session at Cleveland, Ohio, October, 1922, known as the Degree of Patriotism and the Rank of Knighthood.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The ladies’ auxiliary was named Daughters of St. George. Headquarters were in Chicago, Illinois.

[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In 1936 it changed its name into the St. George Fraternal Insurance Society.[/FONT]

 

[Hawks88]

Welcome to tnet from Niagara Falls

 

[Raider19962]

Well, the Latin "Pax aut Bellum" translates "Either Peace or War". The Ames Sword Co. made better than most swords out of several locations, mostly in Massachusetts and Ohio, in the 1800's. This looks like a fraternal order of some sort. A picture of the hilt and the overall sword would help more. Nice!

 

[DCMatt]

Someone else can confirm, but my eyes read "Ames Sword Co. Chicago" in pic #2. That would make the sword pre-1893 when the name became Henderson-Ames.

 

[mower131]

Thanks for all the info. I thought it was a pretty neat sword. I have know idea where my dad would have got it, but he collected a lot of stuff. I wonder who I could go to see what its worth. I wont sell it it is to cool, but it would be interesting to know. And it does say Ames sword company, Chicago il.
,

 

[DCMatt]

I wonder who I could go to see what its worth.

I did a little (very little) research on the value. While fraternal order items are collectible, I don't think your sword is worth big bucks. Most on the collectors websites are listed in the $200 - $500 range.

That said, I DO think your item may be a fairly rare piece since there weren't THAT many Sons of Saint George lodges. I think it would be cooler to find out who it originally belonged to. SoSG seem to have an interesting origin.

I did see 1 or 2 swords listed for $1000 or more, listing price doesn't equal sale price.

Thanks for posting!

 

[A2coins]

That is a sweet piece I would get it appraised and keep it in your Family very nice.

 

[A2coins]

Welcome to tnet also from MI Tommy

 

[Bruce R]

You have a mis-match, your scabbard is from an Oddfellows sword, Patriarchs Militant..

 

[Joe-Dirt]

I found an Odd Fellows connection from the “paxaut Bellum” inscription

 

[DCMatt]

You have a mis-match, your scabbard is from an Oddfellows sword, Patriarchs Militant..

No reason to call it a mismatch. Pax aut Bellum is simply a Latin phrase. The Oddfellows had no specific rights or claim to it.

It is interesting that your book contradicts my research and dates the sword to 1891 - 1925.

 

[Bruce R]

No reason to call it a mismatch. Pax aut Bellum is simply a Latin phrase. The Oddfellows had no specific rights or claim to it.

It is interesting that your book contradicts my research and dates the sword to 1891 - 1925.

The PM on the scabbard doesn’t stand for Knights of St. George. I’ve been collecting lodge swords for nearly 20 years now, I’m confident on this issue.

 

[Bruce R]

I have a reprint of the Ames catalog for 1882-1889 and that sword is not in it, which probably means that the sword was produced after 1889.

 

[Bruce R]