If
you go to National Park Service Little Bighorn Battlefield National
Monument, you will find another sword that was discovered at the Little Big Horn in 1918.
(Credit: Courtesy of the National Park Service, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
LIBI_00822_01251, broken blade, grips missing, very badly rusted. Found in 1918. Because swords and sabres were not used in field at this time it is not an army relic of the fight.)
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I have been collecting and purchasing swords since the mid-1980s.
It
is the love of these weapons that has taken me weekend after weekend to
flea markets, antique shops, basements and anywhere I can find a
vintage sword.
One Saturday morning a few
years back took me to a flea market in central New Jersey. A new vendor
had set up shop and had 2 swords on his table. One was a War of 1812
Eagle head officers sword; the other a relic that I believed at the time
to be a Prussian Blucher model 1811. I quickly purchased both and when I
arrived home I lightly cleaned some of the dirt and grime off of the
model 1811 blade. To my surprise the following inscription in gold began
to appear:
“Found at Gen- Custers Slaughter By The Indians”
This inscription appears to be in style, dialect, substance and a script period to mid 19th century.
The
gentleman who sold the sword had no knowledge of swords or that an
inscription was on it. This was a doorstop to the seller! (I continue to
go back every week and have never seen this vendor again. which sucks
but is the nature of an outdoor market)
I
called a friend who is also knowledgeable on swords explained my find
and we both belly laughed out loud and immediately dismissed this claim.
This sword is a Prussian Blucher 1811 and these are ALWAYS U.S. veteran
pick-ups from WW1 and WW2.
I
sent pictures to some experts and everyone agreed it was most probably a
Prussian 1811 based on length and tip. So my friend and I had a good
laugh and I put this sword away.
This sword continued to nag at me in the back of my mind.
(If
you are a collector and you know an object has a story that has not
been told to your satisfaction, that object resonates in your
subconscious brain and pulls you back to it.)
This sword pulled me back to it!
I
proceeded to go over this sword (painstakingly) centimeter by
centimeter with 25x magnification and then it appeared on the spine not
legible to the naked eye. “Josh H. Reddel & Co”. (picture 6) More research and
the realization that his WAS NOT a Prussian sword but an English Model
1796 light Cavalry sword. This sword had been cut and rounded at the
tip. So I think, “ok cool,” but this still makes it an antique during
the Indian Wars and puts it over 4,000 miles away from the plains of
Montana.
So I get a
headache, and put this sword away again for some time, until I stumble
upon this line on the internet; Native American Weapons: “There are many
references in literature – descriptions, drawings, and pictographs of
swords by North American Indians Many of them were probably the English,
Model l796, light cavalry sword which were surpluses after the
Napoleonic Wars These were sold throughout the American West, and one
outlet in the l840s was the Bordeaux Trading Post near present- day
Chadron. They became a type of status symbol, particularly among some
of the plains tribes”. It starts to appear to me that the story of this
sword being picked-up on a Montana battlefield is not as funny as I had
originally thought.
The tedious research has begun and the more knowledge I acquire about the little Big Horn the more I genuinely
believe this sword was:
“Found at Gen-Custers Slaughter By The Indians”
I have always thought is that this sword was picked up by a Trooper or Officer early in the game
possibly in one of the burial expeditions or not long after!
** see"General Edward Settle Godfrey"response below
I have has so many emails from ebayers, I truly would like to than you all!
Many respected professionals both in the U.K. and U.S. have shared their knowledge on this subject, which supports my belief in the inscription.
This sword has been exposed to the elements for a short time.
I base that on my experience with swords, some 33 odd years, with the emphasize on odd.
SWORD:
1796 English light Cavalry sword
Manufacturer: Josh H. Reddel & Co (Stampted On Spine)
Length blade 30.5” shortened, spear point removed, improper sharpening*
(*Indicative of Native American ownership as per an renowned expert)
Sword hallmarks: Josh H. Reddel & Co (spine)
Small English crown (right side fuller hardly visible through rust, visible only with 25x magnification only)
Troop markings F over 13
Inscription in gold almost completely faded:
“Found at Gen Custers Slaughter By The Indians”
I
particularly like the verbiage “Found at Georg- Custers Slaughter By
The Indians” , we really do not use the word slaughter*
in modern speech,
it adds to the provenience of this sword. I also like the script used
as it appears to be period also.
*
On July 4th, 1876, 235 members of the Seventh Cavalry signed a petition asking General Sherman to promote Major Reno to Lieut-Col here is a excerpt: "that the vacancies among the commissioned officers of our regiment, made by the *
SLAUGHTER of our brave, heroic, now lamented, Lieut-Col. George A. Custer"
Many prominent archeologists, sword experts and even forensic investigators worldwide have contributed and helped me, I have included their remarks. (Happy to provide full letters upon request)
I am continuing my research and listing this in hopes of more information from you!
I gladly accept any intelligent opinions or perspective on this battlefield relic.
I am aware that the 7th. Cavalry did not carry any swords at L.B.H.
(possibly two "may" have been on the battlefield carried by U.S. Army )
Some quotes from some of the top experts on Little Big Horn this sword and the model 1796:
“I applaud your caution, but in this case I think you really may be on to something.
First
there is the fact that, as you have determined, huge numbers of old
1796s were commonly available in the Old West. One might also just
reinforce the point with the observation that the 1796 is arguably the
most successful sword in history, both in terms of its excellent design
and graceful form, but also its ubiquity. It is still easy to get one-
they are great swords and not very expensive, even today.
I
find it perfectly plausible that your sword belonged to a Sioux warrior
or leader. In my experience, when swords come with fantastic stories
attached to them, they are, most often, obviously untrue- clearly, the
date, context and identity of the sword easily rules out the romantic
associations attached to it.
But
when everything about the sword is consistent with the story that has
formed around it…. this makes me sit up and pay attention. When object
and story agree, it can be an indication that the story is true.
The
balance of probability seems therefore to be in the favour of the idea
that this sword was indeed in Indian hands. The fact that the blade has
been altered (incorrectly) is also evocative of this scenario.
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**I am sure your sword was part of the General Edward Settle Godfrey
Collection of New Hanover Township, New Jersey. I have seen somewhere an
accounting of his war souvenirs. When the General died in 1932 (Cookstown, NJ)
many of these prized possessions found themselves sold to local New
Jersey curiosity seekers and collectors. I would check to see if you can
find the inventory list estate contents of his house.
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“The
gold painted lettering is interesting. After the CW many GAR halls and
lodges painted their enemy trophies and weapons gold.”
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“The
research article from 1980s Museum of Fur Trade describes in detail how
the 1796 Light Cavalry Sabre became a highly desired trade good with
the Indians. I became very interested in the topic as I obtained the
Sabre in the picture above that was plowed up in a field in the early
1900s in northwest Kansas by a homesteader.”
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“It
is well known that Native American warriors frequently had swords as a
part of their paraphernalia. It is not well documented in regard to
whether they used swords in battle. The swords that were acquired by
Native men were often decorated with beaded leather and fur/feather
trailers.”
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“I
can very easily see how the story goes from disbelief and laughter to
‘hang on a moment, what’s going on here then?’, particularly after you
had identified the sword type and maker of the sword, ‘Josh H. Reddel
& Co.’ (is a second ‘l’ visible, at all?).I presume you already are
aware that this sword–cutler company is noted as having been active in
Carey’s Court, Birmingham (UK), between 1816-21. Joshua H Redell &
Co, was a noted supplier of swords to the British Government. The mark
you describe as ‘F 13 Small English crown’, which would appear to be the
Viewer’s Mark, would perhaps make more sense if it was read ‘Crown over
B over 13’ as the letter refers to the place of manufacture (the number
refers to the viewer). Do you think the ‘F’ is all you can read of a
possible ‘B’?
As to
it’s being found on the site of an Indian Wars battlefield this is not
at all impossible; as you have noted various swords were exported around
the world and no doubt one may have ended up in North America. The fact
that this sword was reputedly found in Montana, and bears indications
that associate it with the site of the Custer battle, obviously takes
the story of this sword to a possibly different level. The story is not,
in itself, intrinsically impossible
Anyway
you are taking quite the right approach; cautious further research may
prove the story of this, potentially, fascinating sword.”
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“Thank
you for your e-mail; yes this is indeed a P1796 sword and I can tell
you that J H Reddell was active between 1816-21, making this a late
production of the pattern.
It was common, as you say, for swords to be carried by others long after leaving the hands of the British.”
I am continuing my research and listing this in hopes of more information from you!
I gladly accept any intelligent opinions or perspective on this battlefield relic.