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Dale Anderson's personal 30 year collection of Spanish American War memorabilia will be sold at auction this September, along with several large antique gun collections of prodigious quality and importance from other prominent collectors.  The auction company handling the sale is Rock Island Auction Co. of Moline Illinois, the most prestigious company of its kind in America.  If you are either a collector or dealer with interests in these areas, this auction will be among the most premier events in memory, offering an unequaled selection of the most desirable arms and memorabilia to date.

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We offer a nice selection of swords, knives, and daggers. They are not listed in chronological order, so please review the entire section.

PLEASE NOTE:  The items in this section represent our final sword and knife offerings.  We will not be acquiring new edged weapons inventory, so take advantage of some nice buys while you can.

1EW  -  CIVIL WAR STRAIGHT RAZOR POCKET KNIFE.  More Photos, Click Here    In its day, certainly one of the most frightening, vicious, and effective weapon one could carry for personal protection, and personal intimidation.  Something for bar fights when on leave.  Not something you would expect to be carried by your typical farmer-soldier.  Owner took a large Barlow-type pocket knife handle with blade, took out the blade and replaced it with a straight razor blade. The whole thing definitely dates Civil War. Opens and closes like a regular pocket knife.  9 3/8” long overall.  Steel parts are either dark grey or thin brown with some overall pitting.  Black wood grips; one side has little split in the wood.  Great soldier display item – goes along with the brass or lead iron knuckles many carried.  $75

3EW  -  SWORD CANE (WALKING STICK).  More Photos, Click Here   36" long, with substantial 23 5/8" long, straight steel blade.  For thrusting only, as there is no edge.  Both sides of the blade have a shallow, concaveness almost to the point - which could be considered a wide, shallow fuller.  Blade is bright with original polish.  Mounted in a fairly heavy black painted wood shaft (scabbard) with some zig-zag chip carving at the bottom above a brass collar with steel stud tip.  Upper end rather decorative with cast brass lion head pommel cap above a 2" long, turned and tapered horn grip, above a 2" tall bone grip extension, the bone neatly relief carved, the sunken areas colored black.  Below this is a rotating brass collar which locks/unlocks the blade.  Below this is the top of the wood shaft with a bit of chip carving.  Whole thing good as new.  Seems to have some age, but not terribly old.  We have no facts on the origin. Possibly India/Pakistan, but I could be wrong.  No markings.  Definitely not a toy.  $95

4EW  -  TWO BUFFALO HUNTER BUTCHER KNIVES.  More Photos, Click Here  Owned by the same person, who carved his initials in the wood grips.  Typical of the knives carried in their knife boxes.  Typical of knives sold to trappers and traded to the Indians.  I retained these from a large grouping of Buffalo Hunter gear I once owned, all from the same hunter.  These knives barely show any wear and the blades retain 90% original shine.  Both marked "H & H Co./Warrented Shear Steel/Boston, Mass.".  Have not been able to find anything on the company.  Knives are 13" long overall.  Rare find.  Both for $75

5EW  -  TWO LARGE ANTIQUE BUTCHER KNIVES.  More Photos, Click Here   Typical knives as carried by buffalo hunters in their portable knife carrying box.  The box, some times rectangular, square or round, had slots for a whole variety of knives and blades and the box usually had a heavy leather shoulder sling.  These knives are also typical of those sold at fur rendezvous and traded to the Indians.  Large, slab sided wood grips.  Standard butcher knife shape.  A)  This one is marked by the famed L F & C. Co.  Dates 1870's-80's.  Heavy patina.  Nice old look.  Spotty rust on the blade.  15" long.  Shows a little wear.  B)  Unmarked.  About the same size as A.  Shows a little more wear.  Blade a bit narrower.  Some thin rust.  Nice old patina to wood grip.  Make good display knives for Old West collection.  Both for $45

6EW  -  THREE ANTIQUE KNIVES.  More Photos, Click Here  Typical skinning knife style - also typical style of Indian Trade knives.  Probably date late 1800's to turn-of-century.  Many were used as common kitchen knives.  These show age and a lot of use.  A) 10 1/2" long.  Walnut grips with 3 brass rivets.  Marked on reverse with crown and straight razor plus "Razor Edge/Guaranteed/Royal Brand Cutlery".  Crack on grip.  Couple rivet washers are gone.  B)  12" long.  Unmarked.  Age stained blade showing wear.  Rounded wood grips.  C)  10 1/2" long.  Typical skinning knife style.  Interesting deeply stamped marking on reverse, in fairly large lettering "VILLAGE BLACKSMITH/WATERTOWN WISC.".  Blade grey, worn.  Wood grip worn, with slight crack lengthwise.   All three...only $10

7EW  -  M1893 SPANISH MAUSER BAYONET.  More Photos, Click Here  Famous weapon used against the US in the Spanish American War.  Spanish Arsenal made.  Ricasso markings worn but enough remain to identify arsenal and date 1897.  10” blade is clean with overall light grey.  Not rusted or pitted.  Grips retain most finish with some wear and few shallow impressions.  Pommel metal shows more wear than blade. Grey.  Original sheath.  Metal clean/grey.  Leather is flexible, almost limp.  Finish just dull from wear.  $85

8EW  -  M1893 SPANISH MAUSER BAYONET.  More Photos, Click Here  Famous weapon used against the US in the Spanish American War.  Made by SIMSON CO./SUHL, and clearly marked.  10” blade is mostly clean, grey.  Some scattered black spotty stain.  Couple ½” or less spots have shallow rust.  Grips have low luster original finish, some light wear, and some surface rubs.  Pommel metal is brown.  Original sheath.  Metal is brown.  Black leather is stiff.  Fairly smooth, worn surface.  No cracks or flaking.  $65

9EW  -  FOUR LARGE ANTIQUE KNIVES.  More Photos, Click Here  A) 16" long butcher knife.  Dark walnut grip.  Shows very light wear.  Clear maker's mark on reverse - in oval it reads "Samuel Lee/Knives & Steel/L. F. & C./PAT. MAY 25, 1896".  Another line shows date of 1904.  B)  15" long, probably a bread knife.  C.1850.  Thin, flexible blade.  Well worn.  Pewter ferrule.  C)  13 1/2" handsome butcher knife.  Marked LAMSON & GOODNOW/MFG. CO.".  C.1844.  Bone grip with pewter ferrule and inlays.  Excellent with light wear.  D)  12" long table knife.  Possibly as early as C.1770.  Blade tinned.  Stamped "SANDERSON/SHEFFIELD".  Squarish wood grip.  Shows wear.  All four only...$25

10EW  -  HEAVY, HAND MADE U.S. SOLDIER’S SIDE KNIFE.  More Photos, Click Here  12 ½” long overall.  I constantly look for these, for their diversity and importance. Neat.  Very heavy.  I judge this WWI because it lacks the general sophistication normally found on GI made WWII knives, and , on the other hand, fits into the genre’ of crude and heavy WWI GI hand made knives.  Rectangular grip is two slabs of steel riveted to the rectangular tang.  The cross guard is a slab of ¼” thick brass 3 3/8” long, 5/8” wide.  The blade is 8” long, and also heavy, with a shape suggestive of the German bayonet of the time. Totally untouched dark patina.  Blade mostly clean/grey under the patina.  Comes in original dark brown leather scabbard made of layered pieces just riveted together.  Large flap at top with belt slots, has about half broken off.  All untouched.  Lots of real character.  $150

15EW  -  MASSIVE WWII G.I.’s HAND MADE COMBAT KNIFE – IDENTIFIED.  More Photos, Click Here  Quite an amazing specimen when compared with most hand made G.I. knives.  Pure utilitarian, which actually gives it some distinctive style.  Knife is 14 3/8” long overall.  Blade is 8 ¾”, and is a re-contoured bayonet, or made in the manner of.  Nicely contoured.  Heavy.  All surfaces still retain original machining marks (fine, parallel scratches as from a sanding belt).  Just light grey.  Tear drop shaped thin sheet steel counterguard.  Rounded rectangular grip is heavy, dark brown, stacked leather washers with heavy aluminum pommel.  Original thick brown leather sheath riveted together.  Face piece heavily arched from rear, forming a considerable space into which you just drop the blade.  Big, wide and flat flap above with belt loop on back.  Grip and scabbard stamped with soldier’s name RUSSO.  Additionally, scabbard is stamped “CHIEF OF POLICE/BOOTHWYN, PA”.  Just shows rubbing.  Quite a large unit.  $350

23EW  -  WWII G.I.'s HAND MADE FIGHTING KNIFE. Click on each thumbnail photo for a larger view  Everyone knows about the great shortage of side knives during the War, which caused a huge industry among G.I.'s in making knives.  This spawned a great collecting field – that of collecting the fascinating different designs created by the soldiers and sailors.  We love to find these as well and look for them always.  This one is really different.  The grip is a massive, fitted chunk of Plexiglas 5" long, 2" wide, widest at each end, narrower between the ends, and with shallow finger grooves.  Transparent.  The blade tang is clearly seen inside, a bit messy.  Small counterguard of brass.  A very nicely made blade, like a throwing dagger.  9" long. Bright. Good as new.  $75

27EW  -  SUPER WWII G.I.’s HAND MADE COMBAT KNIFE.  More Photos, Click Here  Great numbers of these were made during the War because side knives were in serious short supply.  Thus, the great ingenuity of the American soldier and sailor went to work and produced a grand variety of knives, each with great individuality.  Here’s a good one.  13” long overall.  7 ¾” flat, heavy bowie blade with good contours. Massively hilted with cast aluminum counterguard/bolster and chunky pommel.  Grip is made of stacked phenolic or similar black material, spaced with sheet aluminum washers.  Heavy knife.  Solid.  Blade is lustrous grey.  Has some fine original scratches from when it was made.  Heavy original brown leather scabbard laced together.  Shows use but has good original finish.  Snap strap a more recent repair and an unnecessary narrow belt loop was recently added to rear.  Snap strap uses old leather and barely noticeable.  A good collector’s specimen.  $195

29EW  -  FINE C.1870-80’s MASONIC SWORD.  More Photos, Click Here   These have become very popular as well as scarce.  I was lucky to find a small collection.  When the couple we found are sold, I don’t know from where the next will come.  Solid brass hilt with silver plating.  Helmeted head pommel.  Wedge shaped counterguard.  Black finished wood grip with applied decorations having red cross at center.  Wear to silver.  Tarnished.  Some little dings in grip finish.  Blade about MINT.  Has owner’s name etched on one side in ornate lettering “Frank S. Waldron”.  Other side has large cross. Mirror-like original polish.  Maine dealer name.  Black glossy leather covered scabbard with large brass fittings, hand engraved with large Crusader, red cross, and leafy flourishes.  Leather finish has shallow impressions of drying cracks.  Mounts have worn, tarnished silver plate.  $375

30EW  -  FINE AMES ANTIQUE MASONIC SWORD C.1860-80.  More Photos, Click Here  My opinion is that this is earlier rather than later.  Etched decoration is early style, as is blade style (flat oval).  Classic cast brass hilt with helmeted head pommel, wedge shaped counterguard and black wood grip with applied brass cross with red cross center. Mint blade has mirror polish and EXTENSIVE etched designs – most Masonic symbols…couple styles of crosses, banners, mosque, crusader head, and rococo scroll work,  Marked “Ames Mfg. Co./Chicopee/Mass.”.  Solid brass scabbard also Ames marked, plus engraved with owner’s name “J. E. Gould”.  Nearly covered with hand engraved decoration on face plus two crosses.  Much rococo scroll work.  Traces of silver plating.  Fine.  By a famed military sword dealer from well before the Civil War.  $435

35EW  -  SERIOUSLY NASTY WWII G.I.’s HAND MADE COMBAT KNIFE.  More Photos, Click Here  This one also has lots of style.  16 1/8” long overall, the blade is 11 3/8” long, with a wicked, narrow point.  Possibly contoured out of a bayonet blade, there is little resemblance to a bayonet any longer…more like a dagger.  Strong and sharp.  Blade has a surface which has aged to a clean steel, nearly covered with a black microscopic speckling which is tiny pitting.  The hilt is quite well designed, and stylish.  Has a wide and thick aluminum counterguard, with stacked leather washers contoured smaller behind it, to a rounded squarish grip with a few sheet aluminum spacers for “looks”…ending in an aluminum pommel cap.  Fine condition.  Side of counterguard were fairly neatly engraved by maker to read “Hand Made/COMMANDO”.  Splendid original brown leather scabbard with lustrous original finish, one end of snap strap that holds hilt in place, is cut short.  Shows use but very good+.  Excellent character.  $350

36EW  -  HANDSOME & FINE CIVIL WAR SABER BAYONET.  More Photos, Click Here   Bright 21 ¾" blade retains most original polish, the color most subtly affected by microscopic, transparent speckling from handling.  Also, about 12" of the tip has edge sharpening.  Solid brass hilt about good as new, with the slightest patina.  Hilt is 4 15/16" long, with a bore of 0.810.  Has a short stud slot and is most like specimen #127 in Hardin's "The American Bayonet".  I don't know which weapon this bayonet went to.  Most look identical, the only differences being usually in specific dimensions.  $350

44EW  -  VERY RARE & IDENTIFIED 1872 MOUNTED U.S. ARTILLERY OFFICER’S SABER.  More Photos, Click Here  Very few of these were made relative to other models.  In 1872 when almost all other officers were forced to wear the M1860 Staff & Field officer’s sword, the mounted officers of artillery were authorized this saber.  This specimen is not only identified, heavier than almost every specimen I’ve seen, it is of higher quality.  Hilt has single knucklebow in reverse “P" form, and has a backstrap ending in front on a heavy, checkered thumb rest area.  All this is quite heavy.  Grip has rayskin wrap, aged and chipped and about 70% intact.  Decorative wire wrap mostly present, but with several breaks.  Large scale blade bright and crisp with minor wear and really crisp etched panels 13 ½” long. Includes repeating floral scrolls, lovely American Spread Eagle emblem, large letters “U.S.”, and a panel with the officer’s name “H. B. CLARK”.  Ricasso marked “RIDABOCK & CO./NEW-YORK”, and “Made in France” (always better quality).  Nickel plated steel scabbard with brass throat, rings and drag.  Shows minor wear only.  Source provided some info on officer, showing service in Spanish American War as 2^nd Lt., made Captain in 1904, and serving in coastal artillery in 1906.  Believe the date provided for his birth year is typo (listed 1885, probably should be 1875).  Important sword in progression of Regular Army models and very rare.  Easy to get the grip restored.  $775

47EW  -  A DEADLY & VICIOUS STILETTO, CIRCA CIVIL WAR (1860's).  More Photos, Click Here   This has a tapered  “blade” nearly 8” long, with 6 concave fullers the full length, tapered to a good point.  Couple shallow pitted spots.  Has a decorative silver ferrule and a stag handle.  Blade is blue.  Knife is 12 ½” long.  Makes one vicious stabbing stiletto.  Excellent.  Came in a small collection of historic fighting knives.  $75

49EW  -  WAR TROPHY FIGHTING KNIFE/MACHETE FROM THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR & PHILLIPPINE INSURRECTION.  More Photos, Click Here   This is an exceptionally attractive BORONG or vicious fighting knife which most of the Moro natives carried and which caused our soldiers considerable grief, actually justifying the creation and issuance of a more powerful U.S. soldier’s side arm, the legendary Colt .45 semi-automatic.  We have another borong which was removed from the abdomen of a U.S. soldier.  Whole thing is 20 ¾” long, knife in scabbard.  Lovely carved and striped wood grips with dark brass ferrule.  14” long, hand made, classic leaf-shaped blade. Bright with couple insignificant  brown age spots.  Lots of original tool marks.  Handsome scabbard of wood, mostly covered with decoratively woven split reed.  Bottom end has 1” loss of covering and a few splits in the wood.  Upper end on face very handsomely carved and faced with mother-of-pearl, which has a star in circle emblem.  This facing is lost from the reverse side.  A great war relic from a turbulent and world-changing period of our history.  $350

55EW  -  WWII GI-MADE FIGHTING KNIFE.  More Photos, Click Here  Shops on post, or on ship turned out thousands of knives of every imaginable description during WWII.  These make a great collection with endless possibilities. Here’s a knife with a distinctive feature whose origin is unknown to me, but which shows up from time to time…the wide, leather-backed counterguard.  15 ¼” long overall.  10” blade.  Long, narrow, with a bowie shaped tip.  Very heavy grip made of stacked leather washers, which grow larger to fit the back of the counterguard. Has a brass pommel cap.  Wish this one had its sheath.  But still a great design.  Blade grey with couple small rust spots.  $95

58EW  -  ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL, AND NASTY WWII GI-MADE FIGHTING KNIVES I’VE EVER ENCOUNTERED.  More Photos, Click Here  14 ¼” long overall.  8 ¾” blade.  A large and rugged stiletto.  Symmetric double edged blade, very sharp, substantially thick, and equally wide its entire length.  At the ricasso, it narrows to become entirely round as it enters the heavy black phenolic grip. Perhaps once part of something else, or modified, it makes a perfect grip for the blade.  Both blade and handle show fine finishing marks.  In its original heavy brown leather sheath, riveted together, and with belt hook on top.  For a knife collector, this is a great one.  $350

70EW  -  CIVIL WAR CAVALRY OFFICER’S COMBAT SABER.  More Photos, Click Here  High quality French import in regulation US form.  Heavy brass three branch hilt with leafy spray on the face. Pommel has wreath over top and sides.  Beautifully formed brown horn grip.  Light even patina and fine condition.  Choice combat blade with slight wear or use.  Crisp edges.  Undecorated.  Nickel plated steel scabbard with overall speckled brown age.  Overall aspect is still bright nickel.  No dents.  Lacks one of the rings; impression where the ring was, very clear and dark. Our forces (North & South) used large numbers of imported French sabers and had almost from the earliest days of our history.  The best quality sabers came from France.  $750

73EW  -  HEAVY AND IMPRESSIVE WWII SHOP-MADE G.I. FIGHTING KNIFE.  More Photos, Click Here  Quite a handsome, heavy hilt.  Eight sided aluminum hilt, entirely cross-hatched by machine.  Precise grooving.  Shows considerable remaining black finish to hilt.  Thick brass counterguard and 7” long single edged blade still retaining 60-70% original thin fire blue. Extreme tip has tiny chip out – less than 1/8”.  Fine heavy brown leather scabbard.  Adjustable safety strap.  Leather nearly good as new, with minor age patina and small rubs.  Knife is 12” long overall.  I love these hand made knives with character.  $195

78EW  -  M1840 U.S. CAVALRY SABER.  More Photos, Click Here  Aside from a pale even patina, the hilt looks unused.  The grip leather is nearly as good, but a bit shrunken lengthwise. Also has a few chips out, mostly along the bottom seam. Original wire wrap.  Blade retains most original polish, discolored in places by dark grey caused by fingerprints left uncleaned. (The main photo shows the photographer's reflection). Couple little edge nicks.  Original leather-throat washer.  Excellent steel scabbard with no dents and mottled grey surface.  $745

84EW  -  EXCEPTIONAL, LARGE SCALE WWII G.I. FIGHTING BOWIE.  More Photos, Click Here 15” long overall!!  Sophisticated bowie blade design suggesting it was salvaged from an earlier knife and re-hilted.  Heavy, tall oval sheet iron counterguard and dark orangey brown pine grip, with surface grain design enhanced by flame burnishing. Blade clean, dark grey, with some smooth wear and some edge sharpening.  Grip is fine.  $125

87EW  -  VERY TYPICAL WWII G.I.-MADE FIGHTING KNIFE.  More Photos, Click Here  Another way of saying shop-knife…which were turned out in great variety and profusion by G.I.’s who had access to any kind of machine or repair shop. Knife is 10 ¾” long. Heavy grip is made of typical stacked washers made of a maroon red phenolic, interspersed with brass washer, and steel pommel cap.  Thick brass counterguard.  Nicely shaped, constant thickness steel blade.  Blade bright, clean, showing some light, original marks from its shaping.  Original dark brown sheath showing nice patina of age.  Strong and flexible.  Few rubs.  Face has a punch mark border line around large, less than professional initials scratched in.  Classic G.I.   $150