U.S. Marine NCOs (noncommissioned officers) sword

The Marine Corps NCO Sword is a sword used by noncommissioned officers and noncommissioned officers (SNCOs) of the United States Marine Corps. The NCO's sword was introduced in 1859 and is modeled after the 1850 US Army infantry officer's sword.

The M1859 NCO sword continues to serve today as the practice and ceremonial sword of the Marine Corps. The use of the sword is limited by regulations to the ceremonial events of the respective non-commissioned officer or staff non-commissioned officer under the armed forces, or to the organization of weddings and wedding celebrations where at least one of the spouses is in uniform. and holds the rank of corporal or higher.

The sword is modeled after the 1850 US Army infantry officer's sword with minor differences. Alumni swords were originally equipped with heavy, broad blades similar in shape and weight to the standard Army M1850 foot officers’ swords. Unlike the blades of military officers, however, the blades of old naval officers' swords were polished but not engraved. The familiar engraved designs on naval petty officer swords were adopted in regulations of 1875 and have been standard equipment on Marine swords ever since.

Marine NCO swords have a cast brass hilt with a half scabbard guard; leather covered handle bound with twisted brass wire; slightly convex single-edged blade with broad central filling and short false edge; and a black leather scabbard with two brass clasps, including a top clasp with a button for wearing a leather belt and a brass pull end.

Officers and non-commissioned officers of the United States Marine Corps have carried swords since the American Revolutionary War. In the early years it is believed that the swords of the naval NCOs were based on army designs, although not necessarily exactly the swords used by the Army NCOs.

About the mid-1820s, however, naval sergeants began using distinctive short swords with cast brass pommels and curved blades. Around the same time, in 1826, naval officers also began using a strange new Mameluke-style sword similar to the one used today.

In 1859, a completely new sword pattern was introduced for naval officers, who were instructed to use the same sword used by army infantry officers from 1850 onwards. Also in 1859, the NCOs of the Marine Corps adopted a similar sword, so that the swords carried by the officers and NCOs of the marines seemed to be of almost the same design and features. Although the Navy NCO version was similar to the Navy officer version, it had several differences. Among the most notable, non-commissioned officers' swords had plain brass hilts and pommels, while officers' hilts and pommels were usually gilded. The hilts of non-commissioned officers' swords were also wrapped in leather, while the hilts of officers' swords were usually covered with sharkskin. Finally, the non-commissioned officers scabbard had only two scabbard attachments, consisting of a frog stud and a butt-pointed upper attachment, while the scabbard had three attachments, including an upper and middle support with bearing rings.

Used by Marine NCOs since 1859, the sword was carried during the American Civil War. With minor modifications since then, it has retained its distinctive and traditional appearance. Although the Naval Officer's Sword is older (1852), it was discontinued until it was reintroduced in the 20th century. The M1859 Marine Sword is the oldest weapon in continuous (continuous) service still in the US inventory. Model 1859 Navy NCO swords were originally equipped with heavy, broad blades similar in shape and weight to those commonly found on Army M1850 foot officer swords.

But unlike the blades of army officers, the blades of early naval swords were polished to a shine, but not engraved. The engraved designs familiar to naval officers' swords were introduced in the Regulations of 1875 and have been standard equipment on naval swords ever since. In the same year 1875, naval officers were again allowed to use their traditional Mameluke swords, which had been discontinued since 1859. At some point after 1875, Marine NCOs used swords with carrying rings attached to the buckle of the buckle. a sword belt, as opposed to the traditional sliding frog stud attachment; this practice ended during World War II and was not continued. The only subsequent change that significantly affected naval gunners occurred in 1918, when uniform regulations required that the blade width be reduced to today's narrow dimensions.