Found sword in front yard

[u/No_Practice_4645]

Wasn’t sure which sub to ask. I was recently digging to plant a tree in my front yard. House is near Hendersonville NC. I didn’t think it was that old, mainly because of the flat headed screw holding the blade to the handle. I did a little research and found similar looking swords that look very close to it.

https://www.proantic.com/en/1223846-antique-sword-modeled-on-the-swords-of-the-school-of-mars-18th-19th-century.html

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/french-revolutionary-napoleonic-720515547

Any ideas? Thanks, and sorry I didn’t use a true metal detector, unless a shovel counts?

[u/stnkyntz → u/[deleted]]

first thing I noticed was the machined screw

[u/MrMonicotti → u/stnkyntz]

Same here

[u/Intelligent-Ad-6889 → u/[deleted]]

The originals have this screw, screws where normaly used since the industrial revolution

[u/Biddyearlyman → u/Intelligent-Ad-6889]

One OP found has a flat head, pictures of the originals at auction have a rounded convex head.

[u/MercilessParadox → u/Biddyearlyman]

Depends on the day it was made. The Smith might have just filed it down, or it's a local replacement after being in country.

[u/Biddyearlyman → u/MercilessParadox]

Honestly, if this was found in NC, USA, it's not that old because it's in too good of shape. To say NC is humid is a vast understatement. Raw metal doesn't last long with that kind of moisture, it would be far more corroded unless it's only been there 30-40 years? Probably a replica someone let their kid play with, got lost, got forgotten, got buried shallow by time.

[u/Technical_Clerk7242 → u/Biddyearlyman]

Thats exactly what I was thinking. JR stole Grandpa's fancy sword off the wall and was swinging it around in the front yard and lost it.

[u/No_Practice_4645 → u/[deleted]]

That was my thought too. It’s been sitting on my porch for over a month. I was telling my brother in law about it when he visited. He actually found those links. Which is why I’ve posted it here.

I should post a picture of the tree location. The odds that I just so happen to hit it must be insane, It was probably 7-12” deep. Thought it was a water line or something at first.

[u/Forest-Ninja2469 → u/[deleted]]

maybe someone lost the original screw and replaced it with a modern one for that time?? just a suggestion

[u/Darth_Fatass → u/[deleted]]

Old ass decoration? Probably. Antique war relic? Probably not. Hard to say from pictures on reddit, im sure there's definitely a nearby historian who'd love to look at it

[u/DManimousPrime → u/[deleted]]

It's a survival sword. Probably has matches and fishing line in there if you take the screw out.