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Masonic Knight Templar
Swords
One
of the most frequent questions we receive in our email
box comes from people trying to learn about Templar swords that they
have either purchased at estate sales or inherited from family
members who were members of the order.
Many of those asking
questions are hoping that they possess a sword from the Middle Ages
when the Templars fought in the crusades. They are soon disappointed
when they are told that the ornate sword they now possess couldn't
possibly be authentic as the Templar Rule forbade all ornamentation
on weapons. Inevitably the sword they are inquiring about is a
fraternal Knights Templar sword or "society sword" as they are
called among collectors.
The purpose of this page is to
explain not only these fraternal swords but also the different
companies that manufactured them.
Description Of Swords
 Pommel:
Regardless of manufacturer, the pommel almost
always depicts a knight's head. This does not distinguish the sword
as uniquely Templar as other fraternal swords such as the Knight's
of Columbus depict a knight's head as well.
Grip:
The grip on a Templar sword
is sometimes black and sometimes ivory. Quite often it will depict
the cross and crown emblem of the order as shown in the diagram to
the left. Some swords will display a stylized Christian cross while
others a triangle and cross. Frequently Templar swords are engraved
with the owners initials on the grip.
Knuckle Guard:
Templar sword
knuckle guards typically depict the cross and crown but many of the
M. C. Liley and Co. swords show a knight's head as shown in the
diagram to the left.
Blade:
The blade of the Templar
sword is particularly ornate and will often depict crusader scenes
and lily work. Virtually every Templar sword made in the last
century and a half will carry the engraved name of its
owner.
Sheath:
A
nickle plated sheath indicates the sword belonged to a Sir Knight,
while a gold plated one is that of a Preceptor (Canada) or Commander
(United States). Like the blade these sheaths are very ornate and
the markings will vary from manufacturer to
manufacturer.
History Of American
Sword Manufacturers:
 Frank Henderson, a prominent citizen in Kalamazoo
Michigan and whose home, the Henderson - Royce Castle is a prominent
site to this day, began selling and manufacturing swords and regalia
in 1850. He remained in the business for nearly a half century until
his death in 1899. The company he began would remain active until it
was dissolved in 1923.
Initially Henderson sold swords under
his own name Frank Henderson and would continue to do so until he
formed a partnership with Theron F Giddings in 1871. The new
company, Henderson & Giddings Co. was a short lived venture and
in 1873, Henderson resumed trade as Frank Henderson.
From
this time Henderson began an association with the Ames Sword Company
and as an agent distributed their line of fraternal swords and
regalia. This relationship continued for two decades at which time,
in 1893, he consolidated his affairs with Ames and formed the
Henderson Ames Company.
Henderson bought out the E. A.
Armstrong Regalia Factory, including all machinery
and inventories a year later. After Henderson's death in 1899 the
company continued on for the next twenty four years when it was
purchased and dissolved by The M. C. Lilley &
Company.
The M. C. Lilley & Company purchased the Ames
Sword Company in 1925 and in the same year change their name to The
Lilley Company. The newly acquired equiptment was moved from
Chicopee MA, to Columbus Ohio.
In 1931 they became the
Lilley-Ames Company continued on for another two decades but due to
a lack of diversity in their product line began to fail. C. E. Ward
bought them out in 1951 and at this time began to manufacture
badges.
Chronology Of Major American
Sword Manufacturers
With the chronological list
below you should be able to get a rough date as to when your sword
was made. For example if your sword carries the markings of
Henderson Ames, then it was manufactured sometime between 1893 and
1929.
1850 - 1871 Frank Henderson
1871-1873 Henderson & Giddings
1873-1893 Frank Henderson
1893-1923 Henderson Ames (Henderson Died In 1899)
1923 - 1925 The M. C. Lilley & Company (? Located in
1925 - 1931 The Lilley Company
1931 - 1951 Lilley-Ames Company
1951 - 1953 Lilley-Ames Company (Badge Maker New Ownership)
(2005 01 Note from: mev30 (on Ebay), Item #6507546148
The Ames company started in 1791 in Chelmsford MA and after the Civil War made a number of ceremonial swords at its works in Chicopee MA. In 1893, a fellow named Henderson who had been an agent selling Ames swords aquired the Ames company. Henderson sold swords with the name "Henderson Ames Sword Co." until the his company was bought by the Lilly Sword company in 1925. It may be this sword was made prior to 1893 as it does not show the "Henderson" name. It certainly was made prior to 1925 because the Chicopee works was closed and moved that year.
PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT GIVE NOR ARE WE
QUALIFIED TO GIVE APPRAISALS ON YOUR FRATERNAL
SWORDS
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