142 BULLETIN 16 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



slender plain steel or bronze strips with two branches of the same 

 type. The blades of the Spanish swords are all straight and with 

 a single exception have two edges. 



The blade of the oldest of these swords ^'^ is oval and bears three 

 short, deep, narrow grooves for a distance of 25 centimeters from 

 the guard. The blade of the second ^^ has a single edge and bears a 

 narrow, deep groove on each side near the back. The obverse is 

 inscribed in large capitals " Por El K,ey-Carlos III " and the reverse 

 " Dragones 10, 1776." This sword was acquired from the Military 

 Service Institution. The blade of the third ^^ is 6-sided in form. 

 The obverse is inscribed " C. IV. 1794 " and the reverse " Ca. y D. 

 To." The grip appears to have been reconstructed, as it is made 

 of wood and decorated with crisscross grooves and studded with 

 steel brads. The pommel is a steel helmet-shaped piece attached 

 to the grip by a screw. The guard is of the regular type described 

 above. This sword was lent to the National Museum in 1916 by 

 Howard Jones. 



The fourth sword ®^ in this series, acquired by the Museum from 

 the Military Service Institution, has an oval blade and a bronze 

 guard. The marks on the blade are now illegible. The fifth ®* and 

 sixth ®5 in this group each have an oval-shaped blade, each side of 

 which is inscribed in large capitals, " Fabrica de Toledo, 1827." 

 One of these was acquired by the National Museum from the Mili- 

 tary Service Institution; the other was captured from Mexican 

 troops during the War with Mexico by Bvt. Brig. Gen. William H. 

 Browne, United States Volunteers, and bequeathed to the National 

 Museum in 1906 by Mrs. Browne. 



SABER OWNED BY MAJ. GEN. GEORGE A. CUSTER 



A Spanish cavalry saber of great interest is one ^^ owned during 

 the Civil War by Maj. Gen. George A. Custer, United States Volun- 

 teers. It has an exceedingl}^ long and heavy 2-edged blade, with 

 three narrow grooves on each side. On the obverse near the hilt is 

 engraved the legend, " No me saques sin raizon ; No me enbaines sin 

 honor." The grip is covered with russet leather and wound with 

 brass wire. The pommel is covered with a heavy helmet-shaped 

 piece of brass, the lower part of which is decorated with a laurel 

 spray. The guard is formed of a heavy bronze strip with three 

 circular branches. 



*" Length, 101 cm Blade, 88.5 cm. long, 3 cm. wide. PI. 42, fig. 8. 

 81 Length, 95.5 cm. Blade, S3.8 cm. long, 2.8 cm. wide. PI. 43, flg. 3. 

 ^ Length, 99 cm. Blade, 86 cm. long, 2.9 cm. wide. PI. 42, fig. 7. 

 «' Length, 98.5 cm. Blade, 85 cm. long, 3 cm. wide. 

 8* Length, 93 cm. Blade, 81 cm. long, 2.5 cm. wide. PI. 43, flg. 1. 

 ''^ Length, 99 cm. Blade, 86.5 cm. long.. 2.8 cm. wide. PI. 43, flg. 2. 

 ^ Length, 113.5 cm. Blade, 96.6 cm. long, 3.8 cm. wide. PI. 43, flg. 5. 



