Pelican Marines - sword & scabbard display?

MBAtarga · 09-29-2016, 03:14 PM

My son is making a surprise gift display plaque for a friend from his college fraternity that will display his sword and scabbard and have room for a Marine seal and a small brass name plate. The problem is he was told by friend's wife that the sword is 40" long.

Looking on-line, we've found several sources for plaques and for swords - but the longest sword I've found is 36" - is that the blade only? I'm wondering is there a "standard" issue sword length. My son is having to build the plaque and ship it out of state - so we've got to design this thing correctly - and we're not sure what distance to mount the brackets.

Any of you Marines have info that might help? Thanks in advance.

Example plaque being made:

Danimal16 · 09-29-2016, 03:19 PM

Is he an Marine Officer or a Marine NCO?

MBAtarga · 09-29-2016, 03:46 PM

Had to check with son - but friend is a Marine Officer

Eric Coffey · 09-29-2016, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

Looking on-line, we've found several sources for plaques and for swords - but the longest sword I've found is 36" - is that the blade only? I'm wondering is there a "standard" issue sword length.

Yep, blade length. There is no "standard issue" length, as it is based upon your height/arm length.
Also, they are not issued. If you rate one, you have to buy them (not cheap). I believe there are several blade lengths available, up to 35".

Officer sword: Ivory handle, brass/gold hilt, no hand guard.
NCO sword: wrapped brass/gold handle/hilt, full hand guard.

FOG · 09-29-2016, 04:34 PM

Marine officers swords are called Mameluke from the Shores of Tripoli. The Mameluke is curved as is the scabbard. The amount of curvature varies slightly between makers. As Ivory is no longer importable (legally) synthetics/substitutions are allowed. Lengths can be more than 35". A pretty good guess on the blade length is sleeve length minus one inch.

The sword you showed is a NCO sword.

S/F FOG

Danimal16 · 09-29-2016, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOG

Marine officers swords are called Mameluke from the Shores of Tripoli. The Mameluke is curved as is the scabbard. The amount of curvature varies slightly between makers. As Ivory is no longer importable (legally) synthetics/substitutions are allowed. Lengths can be more than 35". A pretty good guess on the blade length is sleeve length minus one inch.

The sword you showed is a NCO sword.

S/F FOG

All this with the exception that the sword is an Navy Officer's Sword.

Danimal16 · 09-29-2016, 05:31 PM

Similar to Navy Officer Sword but note the dark Grip.

Also the Knot is very different.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Marine Officer's Mameluke Sword...

Randy

FOG · 09-29-2016, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danimal16

All this with the exception that the sword is an Navy Officer's Sword.

I stand corrected; chalk it up to studity, laziness, lack of education, Bourbon, Single Malt scotch, drugs or any combination of these.

S/F, FOG

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Randy

M.D. Holloway · 09-29-2016, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOG

I stand corrected; chalk it up to studity, laziness, lack of education, Bourbon, Single Malt scotch, drugs or any combination of these.

S/F, FOG

I call party at your house!

sc_rufctr · 09-30-2016, 12:02 AM

A sword is normally measured by its blade only so I would guess* your friends sword is 40" long including the handle.

Danimal16 · 09-30-2016, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m.d. Holloway

i call party at your house!

yes!

Danimal16 · 09-30-2016, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOG

I stand corrected; chalk it up to studity, laziness, lack of education, Bourbon, Single Malt scotch, drugs or any combination of these.

S/F, FOG

The USN CPO Cutlass is another really cool Sword.

Danimal16 · 09-30-2016, 06:10 AM

Here is a photo of the CPO Cutlass.

MBAtarga · 09-30-2016, 06:33 AM

OK - this helps guys - I knew there would be some Pelicans to help. I didn't realize the length was "personalized" to arm length. I do know this guy is on the tall side. The 40" was given to my son by his wife - so that is probably tip of the scabbard to the tip of the handle - as I doubt she removed the sword from the scabbard. Also - my son stated the sword does not have a guard - so I think it looks like Randy's (rececale) posted picture.

I'm thinking we will leave the brackets unmounted/undrilled and have the Marine actually locate them on the plaque himself. I don't want to have holes pre-drilled in the plaque that is our best guess at placement without having access to the actual item.

John Rogers · 09-30-2016, 08:23 AM

I see you are in GA and they have some military bases there so I would suggest going to one of them and in their on base exchange or PX there is always a shop that does "shadow boxes" and they know how to do them correct. No worries, no sweating about getting it wrong, ETC, ETC.

stogie25 · stogie25's Garage

When my girlfriends kid made corporal last year I bought him a saber. While at it I bought one for myself even though it has been 25 years since I was a Marine corporal. I keep mine displayed in a built in. Mine is a 30" NCO saber.