Does anyone out there have any guidance on acquiring a good quality officer sword at a fair price?

Not sure if we're allowed to mention vendors by name on this board, but the leaders for price seem to be the Spanish(?) sword at the exchange site and the German sword sold by a company that also sells premium dress blues.

Many thanks...

Sir -

Only place you can get uniform items is either at the uniform shop or directly from a vendor whose products are sold in the uniform shop. Someone else may sell a product advertised as a Navy Officer's Sword, but that doesn't mean it is a US Navy one.

I would also suggest sites like e-bay and see what someone has they don't want anymore. However, if you buy from someone there the onus is on you to prove it may be worn with the uniform if challenged.

only price I have ever seen it is $350. yes I looked. everywhere...

besides it isn't required until O4 anyway.

Is that where JohnnieB's raise went?

Speaking of that, it got me to thinking about how stupid the Navy stripes are for officers. For enlisted, the crow just gets bigger or stays the same size (SCPO and MCPO) so nothing stands out on the uniform when you get promoted. For officers, they start with one whole stripe, then add a half stripe above and then swap out the half stripe for a whole stripe -- everything is good so far. Next they have to pull off the second whole stripe and replace it with a half stripe and then put a whole stripe above it. Now you have an area a half stripe wide that hasn't been exposed to sunlight for four or more years so it isn't faded as much as the rest of the uniform.

The same basic thing happens at CDR when you again replace the half stripe with a whole stripe which causes the other whole stripe to be moved up half a stripe and now the gap between stripe two and stripe three has the same weathering problem.

Did somebody work this out with uniform manufacturers so that dress blue jackets have to be replaced every time a promotion occurs after LT?

Just one of the strange things bouncing around in my head today.

actually his parents bought him the sword as a Christmas present while he was at NPS.. I was looking at getting it for him as a Graduation pressie. but his father is very good friends with a retired ADM so used the connection.

we yelled at them for spending so much.

His payraise is going towards the cruise and the saty at Shades of green in September...

and wine to get me through until then....

the jacket doesn't have to be replaced but you DO have to buy a new set of fat stripes for the upper part.. when they get moved up the sleeve they become too short . and don't get me started on the $17 PER STAR it is costing to move those suckers up. $130 for both Mess Dress and Dinner Dress jackets. Thank goodnes the White Mess dress has the slidey thingies....

In 35 years service I don't remember blues fading much or restriping being a problem at all. Day-to-day you simply don't wear service dress blue that much.

When I was a midshipman word came out about a Spanish supplier who sold quality swords at a good price. I bought one.

On commissioning I was surprised to receive a sword as a recognition from the Navy League. It was a very high quality naval officers sword. A notch or too above the Spanish sword (remember Toledo was famous for sword-making). It was made by Heilbrun in Germany.

I still have it. A friend wanted to borrow it for some Civil War enactment once.

I told him he could borrow my wife, but not my sword.

I can't remember the last time I saw an officer doing any sword fighting.

My dad graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1941. I have his sword today. The only pictures of him I can recall with him wearing it were at his graduation and his wedding (May '41). Other than that, I can't recall him ever wearing it, although he must have worn it a couple of times in 30 years.

AFAIK, his sword is now almost 50 years old. Not that I'd ever sell it but what are these worth today?

quote:

Originally posted by Mrsjvb:
only price I have ever seen it is $350. yes I looked. everywhere...

besides it isn't required until O4 anyway.

$350 is a good price.
I make out the check for one every year.
This year it was $389 (including s&h) out of a military supply catalogue.

RE: SWORDS
Wow, inflation brought them up to $350. When I priced them through the NEX in 2000 they were $300.
RE: OFFICER'S SLEVE STRIPES
I like mturnb's observation on whole and half stripes, but, be that as mya, I never did mind the minor cost or hassle of being promoted and I've in alot of commands where I didn't have to wear my Dress Blues very often.

Lt. go to silverdart01@aol.com I know of a military supply company you can try. They're pretty good on their stuff.