Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Masonic Knights Templar Sword and Scabbard
ca. 1859
Ames Manufacturing Co.
USA: Massachusetts, Chicopee
a: metal, bone; b: metal, leather
a: 31-5/8"l x 5-1/4"w x 1"d; b: 25-3/8"l x 1-5/16"w x 15-16"d
Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library Collection
UN2000.0002a-b

Masonic Knights Templar Sword and Scabbard. a: Sword has helmet-head pommel of silvery-bronze colored metal (likely worn silver plate) with ribbed bone grip. Crossguard has textured interior, smooth edging and sides, and shell-shaped rainguard on either side. Blade, likely steel, has engravings on both sides. Obverse features Templar cross on ricasso underneath rainguard; then, in order from there to point, a banner engraved "Richmond", a square and compasses with sun, crossed sprigs of acacia, a scallop shell, a banner engraved "Encampment", a skull and crossbones, a banner engraved "No. 2", a passion cross, and then a zig-zag design beyond which sword is polished to point. Blade reverse features passion cross with winding serpent and "In Hoc Signo Vinces" in an arc on ricasso underneath rainguard; then, in order from there to point, crossed sprigs of acacia, a five-point star, a blank banner, "J. S. Kent" engraved in cursive, a triple triangle, a blank banner, a delta, and then a zig-zag design beyond which sword is polished to point. All engravings on blade have shiny finish which contrasts with surrounding brushed finish. b: Scabbard is leather covered and features metal locket and chape, likely silver plate. Locket is 4-1/16" long with rounded edges where it meets body of scabbard on either side; its obverse features two pairs of engraved lines at either end and an oval-shaped frog mount near rounded end, and its reverse features single engraved lines at either end. Chape is 4-11/16" long with rounded edges where it meets body of scabbard on either side; its obverse features a pair of engraved lines at inner end, and its reverse, a single engraved line at inner end. Body covered in black leather with stitched seam along reverse side.