140 BULLETIN 16 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



described but without decoration or inscription. The third Russian 

 sword ^^ bears on the obverse of the blade the imperial arms sur- 

 rounded by a network of floral and scroll designs. The grip is 

 formed of three parts consisting of a hard wood center flanked by 

 sections of brass, the outer one forming the pommel and resembling in 

 shape the beak of a bird. The two swords just described were 

 bequeathed to the National Museum in 1920 by Alfred L. M. Gotts- 

 chalk. 



SWEDISH SWORD 



The national collection includes an interesting sword ^^ of the type 

 carried during the early part of the nineteenth century by Swedish 

 mail carriers. It was transferred to the Museum from the Post 

 Office Department in 1912. 



SCOTTISH SWORDS 72 



The National Museum collection includes four interesting swords 

 of the type often called claymores but more correctly termed broad- 

 swords, which were carried by the Scotch cavalry regiments during 

 the early part of the nineteenth century. The oldest one " has a 

 broad, heavy blade with a single deep groove near the back. The 

 obverse side is marked with a fleur de lis. The grip is covered with 

 fishskin and wound with nine turns of brass wire. The guard is 

 crudely made in full basket shape with openwork designs from a 

 plain sheet of steel. The pommel is bell-shaped. This sword was 

 transferred to the National Museum in 1883 from the United States 

 Patent Office. 



A second broadsword ^* in the collection has a blade of the same 

 type with two narrow, deep grooves near the back. The grip is cov- 

 ered with fishskin and wound with three turns of brass wire. The 

 pommel is bell-shaped. The basket-shaped guard is decorated with 

 groups of heart-shaped and circular designs. This sword was lent to 

 the National Museum in 1909 by Miss Nannie K. Ellis. A third 

 one ^^ has a blade decorated with one broad and one narrow groove. 

 The grip is covered with black leather and wound with four turns of 

 extra heavy brass wire. This specimen belongs to the Alfred F. 

 Hopkins collection. 



The most interesting sword of this character in the collection is 

 one owned during the period prior to the Civil War by Capt. R. L. 



'» Length, 89.5 cm. Blade, 75.5 cm. long, 3 cm. wide. PI. 41, fig. 8. 



■"^ Length. 87 cm. Blade, 74.5 cm. long, 4 cm. wide. PI. 41, fig. 9. 



" Classified as Scottish from the viewpoint of design and not from that of manufacture. 



'3 Length, 91.5 cm. Blade, 77 cm. long, 3 cm. wide. PL 42, fig. 1. 



7* Length, 97.5 cm. Blade, 84 cm. long, 3.8 cm. wide. PL 42, fig. 3. 



" Length, 98.5 cm. Blade, 83.5 cm. long, 3 cm. wide. 



