Marine sword. Need info.

[Tankerwolf]

I figured this would be the best place to put this since I have a good idea what this is already.
My father brought this down last time he visited for me to do what I will with it. From what I can tell it is a Marine officer’s sword (mamaluke?) with one of his old buddies names on it. The company looks like it says “Hilborn Hamburger Inc.” with Germany on one side of the spine and “USMC serial nb 323” on the other. The handle looks like it might be plastic because there is what looks like a small burn mark on the end. The leather strap literally crumbles when touched and there is a good amount of what I’m guessing is oxidation or film on the scabbard and parts of the blade. There are little spots of rust here and there but nothing that looks to serious. It has a heavy wood wall hanger thing with it as well. The hanger seems to be in pretty good shape.
My Google-fu is a bit lacking so I’m wondering if anyone knows anything about these. Is this something I should just clean up on my own or let a professional do it? I am most likely going to sell it being that no one in the family was in the marines. Any idea on a value, present state or restored? Does it matter that it has someone’s name on it. As far as I know he didn’t do anything to make his name worth anything. Any help would be great or if someone has a link to more information on this that’s cool to. Thank you in advance for the help.

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[Hesparus]

Unless you're trained in that sort of thing, I would strongly advise against trying to clean it up yourself. That's all I can tell you.

- Chris

 

[BePrepared]

Unless you're trained in that sort of thing, I would strongly advise against trying to clean it up yourself. That's all I can tell you.

- Chris

+1 this piece if wisdom is repeated by literally EVERY person in the know across the board.

 

[horseclover]

The company had been in business for about 150 years, only recently ending.

The swords were brought in from Germany and this sword likely Eickhorn, Horster or Weyersburg, Kirschbaum & Cle. (WKC)

The 323 is not a serial number but rather an acceptance number for all the Mameluke swords

The six pointed star is not the star of Damascus, the Jewish Mogen David, or deliberately masonic. The two interlocking triangles simply to signify double proof (triangles being a strong shape).

Condition is everything but if selling just leave it alone and provide straight on pictures of the overall and grip. If keeping the sword, keep in mind they were meant to be maintained, there is nothing wrong with careful cleaning (no powered rotary buffing machines, please). If keeping it, carefully remove the sword knot (tassle) and store separately while finding a a new knot. All the cleaning in the world wll not fix the melted handle but if displaying for your own wants and needs, just use less abrasive polishes such as Simi-Chrome, Flitz, etc. Your favorite mild polish. That will remove the rust and shine the scabbard. Don't try to strip the grips off the tang, as along with the star screws is the hole at the end. My next would be my first and I just don't remember past discussion off the top of my head. Pristine is how they were expected to be kept. (shrug) Oh well.

Composition/plastic grips go back more than 100 years but we are probably looking at a 1960s or even 1970s sword depending on your dad and buddies age. Vietnam era is what I suspect, maybe Kroean. You are the one in the driver's seat for further research, as you have at least heard of Google.

If the sword does indeed have an officer's name etched on it, research will be the best way to date the sword fairly specifically. The inclusion or lack of a name does not generally detract and can in some ways increase value, even for a less meritorious officer.

Value is actually pretty meager, especially damaged. Run an Ebay search and then elect completed sales. A few short hundreds and fair street probably less than $200. You can get a brand new shiny one for a bit more.

If there is a case for it and that was leather, that would help date it but I suspect it was one of the plastic ones that was ripped, cracked and was simple tossed after the first few decades.

Running searches here will yield a lot of threads on these swords and company
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/

The plaque/hanger would sell better by itself, rather than lumping it in with the sword.

Cheers

GC