Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This WWII era USMC Officer's Mameluke sword with scabbard features lovely composite grip scales that have yellowed with age but have no cracks or chips. Sword alone is approximately 36 1/2“ long overall and in scabbard is approximately 38“ overall. Blade is approximately 30 1/2" long, curved, and unsharpened. It also has a very nice brown plaited leather sword knot attached to the end of the grip.

Blade is nickel-plated and has been etched on both sides with UNITED STATES MARINES and various other military motifs. The blade is also etched with the name R. N. Hall II in Black Letter typeface on one side. There is no maker marked on the blade, however examples such as this were bespoke, so that is not uncommon. Scabbard is is in great shape, with both of the original hanger rings, as well as the brass throat.

Overall condition is very good, but it does show age, probably being around 70 years old. The nickel plating on the scabbard and blade is a bit worn, giving it a lovely patina of age.

A fantastic USMC Mameluke Officer Sword named to a WWII Era Officer! Ready to add to your collection!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 30 1/2"
Blade Style: Single Edged Sword with Fuller
Overall length: 36 1/2“
Crossguard: 5 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 32 1/2"

Marine Corps history states that a sword of this type was presented to Marine First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon by the Ottoman Empire viceroy, Prince Hamet, on December 8, 1805, during the First Barbary War, in Libya, as a gesture of respect and praise for the Marines' actions at the Battle of Derna (1805). Upon his return to the United States, the state of Virginia presented him with a silver-hilted sword featuring an eaglehead hilt and a curved blade modeled after the original Mameluke sword given to him by Hamet. Its blade is inscribed with his name and a commemoration of the Battle of Tripoli Harbor.

Perhaps due to the Marines' distinguished record during this campaign, including the capture of the Tripolitan city of Derna after a long and dangerous desert march, Marine Corps Commandant Archibald Henderson adopted the Mameluke sword in 1825 for wear by Marine officers. After initial distribution in 1826, Mameluke swords have been worn except for the years 1859–1875 (when Marine officers were required to wear the U.S. Model 1850 Army foot officers' sword), and a brief period when swords were suspended during World War II. Since that time, Mameluke swords have been worn by Marine officers in a continuing tradition to the present day.