How many times have we visited a city on business or pleasure and had some time to fill? Wouldn't it be nice if we could access a list of places of interest to the antique arms collector, in a specific town or city. I have started to put together a list of such places. Obviously my experiences are limited and I really need everyones help to build this list up, so if you have visited somewhere recently then why not let me know so I can add it to the list.
Places to Visit
Please Note : www.oldswords.com takes no responsibility for the accuracy of descriptions or locations. Information is provided by our users.
| Country | Place | Title | Description | ||
| Argentina | Buenos Aires | Circulo Militar | Houses a very interesting collection of military and civilian weapons¸ with a nice sampling of older swords and military lances. | ||
| Austria | Graz | Landeszeughaus | Unique arsenal preserved in its original location. A good array of military weapons. | ||
| Austria | Vienna | Kunsthistorische Museum | Superb collection of rapiers. | ||
| Austria | Vienna | Heeresgeschichtliches Museum | |||
| Canada | Alberta | Glenbow Museum | Here at Glenbow we have about 500 swords which range in age from the 15th century on up to the early 20th century. We only have a few of the earliest swords - most of the collection dates from the 17th century on up¸ however we have a very nice 15th century Venetian broadsword. There is a large collection of rapiers¸ including all types - cup hilt¸ basket hilt¸ swept hilt¸ etc. We have schiavona¸ pappenheimers (including a few of the extra long variety)¸ and basket hilt broadswords. There is also a large collection of 19th and early 20th century British and Canadian officers´ dress swords from a variety of units. There is wide geographical representation within the collection as well - Spain¸ Italy¸ Germany¸ France¸ Scotland¸ England¸ America¸ China¸ Japan¸ and India are all represented including components thereof such as Prussian and Luftwaffe swords. The Chinese swords include some that were used in the Imperial court. Our Japanese swords include Tanto¸ Katana¸ Wakizashi and a large collection of sword fittings such as tsuba and kozuka. If anyone would like further details on the collection¸ they are welcome to e-mail me. Rory M. Cory (rcory@glenbow.org) Collections Technician¸ Military History Glenbow Museum Calgary¸ Alberta Canada |
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| Canada | Calgary | Museum of the Regiments | Some very interesting exhibits¸ though not an extensive number of edged weapons on display. | ||
| Canada | Ontario | Royal Ontario Museum | |||
| Chech Republic | Near Prague | Castle Konopiste | They have a lot of rapiers and other items from the 16th¸ 17th and 18th century. | ||
| Croatia | Zagreb | Croatian History Museum | The museum has permament exibition of saber and swords. | ||
| Cuba | Havana | Napoleon Museum | Collection of Napoleonic artefacts. | ||
| Czech Republic | Prague | Prague Castle | |||
| Denmark | Copenhagen | Military Museum (Tojhusmuseet) | An amazing find. This has got to be one of the largest collections of Swords of the World that I have seen on display. Obviously there is a comprehensive collection of Danish patterns but almost compete sets from every other country too. In a room ( that can only be described as almost warehouse in dimension ) hundreds of swords line the walls. Some of the descriptions may be dubious¸ although the vast majority are correct. Some of the descriptions are in English. |
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| France | Antibes | Napoleonic Museum | |||
| France | Bordeaux | Musée National des Douanes | The Customs National museum presents the history of the customs administration from the Modern Times to our days. The exhibit is organised in 2 sections : a historical presentation covering the period of 17th at the 19th century¸ and a thematic section that shows the daily work of customs agents¸ through their uniforms¸ their WEAPONS and their tools. | ||
| France | Castres | Le musée Goya | mainly an Art collection but with a room full of arms. The room Alain Gayral breaks with tradition. Inaugurated in April 1998¸ it introduces visitors to a fine collection of weapons | ||
| France | Dijon | Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne | Small collection of medieval to 19thC arms and armour | ||
| France | Dijon | Musee d´Acrhaeologie de Dijon | Bronze age¸ iron age and migration period arms (excavated). |
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| France | Fontainebleau | Musee D´Art Et D´Histoire Militaires | Military History (former Napoleonic Museum) was founded in 1963¸ the death of Master L.. E Prost¸ renowned collector and great director of historic celebrations of Fontainebleau. The Museum is housed in a villa built in 1890 Lavaurs¸ rue Saint-Honore. Museum of uniforms¸ creation of the renowned military painter Hugo Fitchner¸ the Napoleonic Museum. With the size and value of the collection¸ the museum can claim to be the third Military Museum of France. |
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| France | Klingenthal | Maison de la Manufacture d’Armes Blanches | By creating this museum¸ members of this association have not tried to install a prestigious collection of weapons. Their goal has been to safeguard heritage. Various exhibits show visitors the skills of workers Klingenthal. They are not only beautiful knives that attract the visitor´s eye¸ but also the tools that once were used to manufacture them. | ||
| France | Melum | Musée de la gendarmerie nationale | The museum¸ created in the School Officers of the Force was reorganized in 1960 in three rooms of command and has a modern interior. The collections show the history of the gendarmerie in chronological order through paintings¸ prints¸ uniforms¸ documents¸ patents¸ ordinances and royal commissions signed by Louis XV and Louis XVI. | ||
| France | Paris | Musee L´Armee¸ Les Invalides | I am not a French speaker but I found that the museum was very good with a very large collection on show to the public. The layout of the museum¸ as you would expect¸ is not sword specific so you must go through the various ´time periods´ to see different swords. As well as individual items of historical importance there are many items displayed in the context of their use. i.e.. displayed being carried by a model of a Polish lancer in French service etc. This approach does make it slower to view many of the items but does show some information on the way items were carried ⁄ used that may be interesting. One problem I did have with this approach from a sword collectors point of view is the inability to view ´close up´ some of the markings and blade types as they were often displayed in their scabbards. There were a few cabinets displaying a large selection of just swords but not many. Overall I think the place is well worth a visit and I would recommend anyone to go. | ||
| France | Paris | Musee Carnavalet | Tells the history of Paris but also has some swords from the Napoleonic era. | ||
| France | Salon-de-Provence | Chateau-Musee de L´Emperi | "A must" to view collections of Naploeonic arms and armour. | ||
| France | Saumur | Cavalry Museum | An excellent collection of swords! Well worth going out of your way to visit. | ||
| France | Tarbes | Musee international des Hussards | Hussars Museum. | ||
| France | Toulouse | Le musée Paul Dupuy | This museum¸ devoted to folk art¸ found on several floors of thousands of documents collected by themes. On the top level¸ is the armory¸ consisting essentially of weapons from the collection of the former arsenal. Weapons regulations primarily¸ but also some civilian weapons donations from private collectors. | ||
| Germany | Kaub | Blucher Museum | In Kaub (located between Mainz and Koblenz along the Rhein)¸ Blücher¸ after the battle at Leipzig¸ crossed with his Schlesien Army the Rhein and marched into French territory¸ thus throwing down Napoleon in 1814 (and afterwards in Waterloo 1815). The museum has a small number of nevertheless fine arms¸ you will be able to see the standard Prussian¸ French and also Russian swords¸ pistols as well as guns. Expectially fascinating for me was a Prussian officer´s uniform¸ hat¸ sash and sword that they had. Plus there is a lot of historic material¸ cards¸ medals¸ information on the Blücher family¸..... All this is presented and explained by the museum´s staff in great detail and with great knowledge. So in case someone has the chance to drop by¸ I can highly recommend it. |
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| Germany | Nuremberg | Germanisches Nationalmuseum | Has a nice load of swords and armour... and while your in that city also visit the castle which has a nice museum. | ||
| Germany | Rothenburg ob der Tauber | Reichsstadt Museum | Rothenburg ob der Tauber - has two halls of pointy objects to include a duesack or two and some nice Grosse Messer. |
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| Germany | Rothenburg ob der Tauber | Medieval Crime Museum | Has a display of executioner swords. | ||
| Germany | Solingen | Klingen Museum | It is not huge but very well organized in the typical German manner. Good selection of high quality swords from early times through current. | ||
| Ireland | Dublin | National Museum of Ireland | Worth a visit both for the buildings and the permanent displays.It´s free and easily accessible.Lots more to see in the same area¸including the Guinness brewery which is just across the river Liffey.But¸go to the museum first would be my advice. | ||
| Italy | Brescia | Castello di Brescia | Hundreds of weapons and armour made in Italy and Europe from the 15th to the 18th centuries. | ||
| Italy | Ferrara | Ferrara Castle | Small collection of medieval-renaissance arms | ||
| Italy | Florence | Museo Stibbert | Truly amazing collection housed in Stibbert´s estate house just a mile or so north of the main Florence tourist area. | ||
| Italy | Florence | Museo Bardini | Small collection of medieval and renaissance arms. | ||
| Italy | Venice | Doge´s Palace | Some famous medieval and renaissance pieces of arms and armour. | ||
| Japan | Osaka | Osaka Castle | Has about 3-4 swords and 2-3 Yoroi (armor) on display and a bigger collection somewhere else (they have a collection book). | ||
| Japan | Tokyo | Japanese Sword Museum | Home of the Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Sword (N.B.T.H.K.) | ||
| Netherlands | Delft | Dutch Army Museum | Beautiful museum in ancient building showing swords from the Celtic period all the way too the first WW. especially the revolutionaire period to 10 days war with Belgium 1830 are nice presentared mainly outside the scabbards. also a lot of uniforms and it has also recently bought a large part of the famous Visser collection Arms. Very well worth to visit! | ||
| Pakistan | Rawalpindi | Army Museum | Good collection of swords in the museum ranging from early iron age up to the end of British period | ||
| Poland | Krakow | Wawel Castle Armoury | One of the best collections of medieval and renaissance arms & armour. |
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| Poland | Krakow | Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowie | Renaissance to 19thC swords and other arms | ||
| Spain | Madrid | Real Armeria | Extremely good pieces from 12th to 18th centuries. | ||
| Spain | Madrid | Lazaro Galdeano museum | A collection of weapons being both extensive and with quite a few very fine pieces¸ mainly rapiers. Part of the collection is stored under the main display cabinets¸ housed in big drawers that you have to open in order to see the items. | ||
| Spain | Segovia | Alcazar | Stumbled on this collection by accident. I wouldn´t necessarily recommend a vist to this castle just to look at the armoury but it does contain a few items of interest. Amonst other arms is a display of about 20 swords from the 17th-18th Century. There is also a part of the castle relating to the artillery school that was housed there. This display does contain a few swords relating to this service. | ||
| Spain | Toledo | Alcazar | The miltary museum contains a large gallery of Spanish swords showing what I have been told is a very comprehensive collection of all the Spanish military pattern swords. Well presented and a great collection covering the different services and ages. | ||
| Spain | Vitoria | Armeria | Small but worth a visit. Has items spanning the centuries and is a good comprehensive collection of Spanish items. They also have a display specific to the Napoleonic Peninsular War (Spanish War of Independence). This display contains a selection of swords and other items from not only Spain but also Britain and France. For those interested in Napoleonic history it also contains information and large models of the Battle of Vitoria which took place nearby. | ||
| Sweden | Stockholm | Army Museum | |||
| UK | Aberdeen | Gordon Highlanders Museum | The Armoury at the Museum has a fine collection of swords: these comprise around 15-20 basket hilts¸ ranging from quite early examples to some from WW2 and later¸ and a similar number of ´other´ patterns¸ including the Scottish field officer and cross-hilt variants. This museum is well worth a visit - it´s staffed by volunteers¸ some of whom actually served with the regiment in past conflicts¸ and there is lots more to see than simply fine swords. | ||
| UK | Alnwick | Alnwick Castle | A nice display of arms in the guard house and a very large collection of 1796LC swords probably from troopers of the militia. Not worth paying the entrance fee just for the swords but a nice castle and gardens. | ||
| UK | Argyll | Inveraray Castle | Very large display¸ lots of Scottish swords. | ||
| UK | Arundel | Arundel Castle | Arms and armour from 14thC to 19thC | ||
| UK | Ayrshire | Culzean Castle | The armoury display is the largest collection of its type in existence¸ apart from Her Majesty the Queen’s at Windsor Castle. In 1812¸ the flamboyant and ambitious 12th Earl bought the pistols and swords from the Office of Ordnance at the Tower of London. The arms were dispatched from London in twelve chests along with ‘one of the men from the tower with the Arms¸ who will fix them up in a proper manner’. | ||
| UK | Bamburgh | Bamburgh Castle | A good selection of 17th century swords on display. | ||
| UK | Banchory | Crathes Castle | In addition to some wonderful painted ceilings which have been very well restored¸ this castle also has a small collection of swords in one of the tower rooms¸ again mainly with connections to the owning family. It´s the usual mix of older basket hilted swords and more recent Victorian pieces. | ||
| UK | Barbican, London | Museum of London | Arms and Armour Palaeolithic to 17thC | ||
| UK | Cornwall | Cotehele House | A couple of walls of arms displayed in the entrance hall. | ||
| UK | Dover | Dover Castle¸ | |||
| UK | Drumoak | Drum Castle | There are several swords on display in the entrance lobby¸ and I was interested to see an 1828 Pattern Scottish officer´s basket hilt with the small "steamer" logo which has been discussed on the Sword Forum in the past. A silver-hilted small sword with colichemarde blade also caught my eye¸ displayed over a nice hunting hanger. | ||
| UK | Eastbourne | Redoubt Fortress | It´s a fortress that was built to stop Napoleon invading and houses a VERY good collection of militaria relevant to the defence of the south east coast of england. The edged weapons are excellent. | ||
| UK | Edinburgh | Edinburgh Castle | Lots of separate museums on the one site. Some very good collections. | ||
| UK | Fyvie | Fyvie Castle | A good large selection of arms line the walls of the entrance hall and stairs. | ||
| UK | Fyvie | Fyvie Castle | A good large selection of arms line the walls of the entrance hall and stairs. | ||
| UK | Glasgow | Kelvingrove Art Gallery | Fantastic collection of arms and amour. Well worth a visit! | ||
| UK | Grenwich | National Maritime Museum at Greenwich | A must visit. Some excellent examples of naval swords¸ especially fine presentation pieces. | ||
| UK | Huntingdon | Cromwell Museum | A good selection of 17th century swords. | ||
| UK | Inverurie | Castle Fraser | Two sword displays in the entrance hall made up of a variety of weapons¸ mostly with connections to the Fraser family (one of whom¸ Lt-Gen Alexander Mackenzie Fraser¸ served in the American War of Independence¸ Egypt and the Peninsular War and commanded a division during the Walcheren campaign of 1809). The NTS staff here have access to a fact sheet which gives a little information about each of the swords (in common with all the sites we visited¸ it isn´t possible to handle the swords or examine them too closely as they are fixed to the walls). | ||
| UK | Leeds | National Armoury | For anyone studing or collecting arms and armour¸ this has got to be the place to go. A huge and impressive building containing the British National Armoury. Displays are excellent and cover many different aspects of the use of arms through the ages. Swords are well represented throughout the museum and unlike the National Army Museum in London¸ this museum contains items from other nations and services. The museum has an excellent research department and I know they are⁄have been involved in helping with countless TV documentaries. There is not a lot else to say about this place. It’s a must visit! | ||
| UK | Leicestershire | Belvoir Castle | Great collection of arms in the guard room. Probably the most complete collection (4 wheels of 50 hangers) of British Militia hangers (Type 1751´s)in existance. Plus a large number of c1780´s cavalry swords. Worth a visit. | ||
| UK | London | National Army Museum | The museum in based on the development and continuing role of the British Army and unlike another great museum in London¸ ‘The Imperial War Museum’ it’s focus is solely on the Army and not primarily the conflicts. Used to house the ´Sword Gallery´ which is sadly no longer there. The museum has a fine collection of swords which are now displayed throughout the museum alongside other exhibits. | ||
| UK | London | Wallace Collection | Manchester Square -off Baker Street. It is an art collection - but under that classification is a large collection of decorated weaponry divided into Western and Oriental. There is a particularly good collection of rapier¸smallswords¸2-handed swords and 15th⁄16th Century full - and half-armours. It´s free. |
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| UK | London | Apsley House | Home of the Duke of Wellington and displays a few swords belonging to and aquired by the first Duke. | ||
| UK | London | Imperial War Museum | Mostly WWI and WWII | ||
| UK | London | Tower of London | Most of the collection was moved to the Royal Armouries in Leeds but still has a very fine display. | ||
| UK | London | British Museum | Arms and Armour Palaeolithic to 19thC | ||
| UK | London | Victoria and Albert Museum | Arms and armour from middle ages to 19thC | ||
| UK | Melrose | Abbortsford | Sir Walter Scott´s house. Wonderful collection of old weapons. | ||
| UK | Monmouth | Town Museum | Monmouth town museum¸ on the S. Wales border. Fascinating small collection of Nelsonian memorabilia for those on the Trafalgar pilgrims trail. Exhibits include the swords of Villeneuve¸ Cisneros (sp?)[Spanish CIC]¸ and a pre pattern 1805 that belonged to Nelson. | ||
| UK | Portsmouth | HMS Victory¸ HMS Warrior and Mary Rose | Ships and arms 16thC to 19thC | ||
| UK | Warwick | Warwick Castle | Arms and armour from 14thC to 19thC | ||
| UK | Welshpool | Powys castle | A fascinating collection of Raj militaria. It contains many rooms with the stunning items brought there by Clive of India. There is probably nowhere else you will see such jewel encrusted¸ priceless weaponry¸ taken from the armouries of the Raj. ... additionally¸ on the main staircase¸ you will see the legendary "Sword of the Marches" ; held to have magical properties in a similar way to excalibar; symbol of power for the March Lord¸ John Charlton¸ first Lord of Powys. |
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| UK | Windsor | Windsor Castle | Home to the Queen and the Royal Collection. | ||
| UK | York | York Castle Museum | In 2001 the castle had an excellent display of rapiers. I had been through in 1995 as well¸ and there was an excellent display of swords and armors from the English Civil War. I have a copy of the book on the sword collection of the museum¸ and it is quite extensive and I would assume that they periodically change the displays¸ but the museum is always well worth a visit. | ||
| UK | York | Museum of The Royal Dragoon Guards | Regimental Museum | ||
| UK | York | Jorvic Viking Centre | Viking arms and armour. | ||
| US | Alabama | Fort Morgan | Fort Morgan. This fort is located at the southern most point of the State of Alabama in Gulf Shores at 51 Hwy 180 W. In the museum visitors center are various Civil War swords and other armaments on display. Some related directly to the events that transpired at Fort Morgan. This is the Confederate fort that had quite involved in the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864. This is also the same battle where Union Adm. Farragut uttered his famous words "Damn the torpedo´s¸ full speed ahead". It is open from 9am to 5 pm and there is an admission cost of some sort. | ||
| US | Birmingham | Birmingham Museum of Art | Within this museums Asian section is very nice display of Japanese swords¸ armor and other weapons. It is worth seeing. The museum is in the heart of downtown Birmingham at 2000 Eighth Ave. near the Civic Center. There is no cost for admission to this museum. It is open from 10am to 5pm Tues. through Sat. Sun. 12 to 5. Closed on Mondays. | ||
| US | Chicago | The Art Institute of Chicago | Major collections of arms and armor¸ jewelry¸ ceramics¸ and tapestries¸ along with paintings and sculpture¸ vividly demonstrate the ceremony of life in the Renaissance era in France¸ Germany¸ Italy¸ Spain¸ and the Netherlands. | ||
| US | Fayetteville | Museum of the Cape Fear | Down town Fayetteville NC has a nice historical district¸ a fencing club and antique stores. | ||
| US | Georgia | National Infantry Museum | The National Infantry Museum¸ Fort Benning¸ Georgia. This museum has several sword on display throughout the museum. Some are from the War of 1812¸ some from the Philippines and some from Japan among others. This is a great museum! The museum is free to the public. It is within the Fort Benning complex so one has to check in with the MP´s at the gates to enter Fort Benning as well as to go to the Museum. The museum is open from 10am to 4:30pm (1000 to 1630) M-F and 12:30 to 4:30 (1230 to 1630) Sat. and Sunday. | ||
| US | Gettysburg | American Civil War Museum | Nice collection of swords uniforms etc and the town has lots of Antique shops |
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| US | Honolulu | U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii | U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii (Fort DeRussy) at Waikiki Beach. It is an old coastal artillery fortification that has had the inside converted into a military museum. The themes extend from antique Native Hawaiian weaponry all the way to a AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter used about the time of Desert Storm. There are several swords within on display. Many were WW2 Japanese and German battle prizes. One of the more interesting swords on display once belonged to one the Kings of Hawaii of the Kamehameha Dynasty. The best thing about the museum is there is no charge to see it¸ unlike a lot of other things in Honolulu. It is open each day from 10am to 4:30pm except on Mondays. | ||
| US | Louisville | Frazier Museum | Houses a portion of the Royal Armouries | ||
| US | Madison | Veteran´s Museum | Nice collection of swords from the early 19th century through WWII | ||
| US | Massachusetts | Higgins Armory Museum | |||
| US | Mississippi | Old Capitol | In Jackson¸ Mississippi. Has a few nice swords. | ||
| US | Montgomery | Department of Archives and History | In downtown Montgomery at 624 Washington Ave. (across the street from the State Capitol) has a very interesting collection of swords from the War Between the States¸ both Confederate and Union. This display is on the second floor in their military section. There are a few other misc. swords in the Archives and History building but they are scattered about within other displays. By the way there once was nice collection of Japanese swords there that were brought back from WW 2 but sadly¸ have since been taken out. The entrance to Archives and History is free. It is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm seven days a week except major holidays. | ||
| US | New Orleans | Confederate Civil War Museum | Located at the Memorial Hall there are lots of swords here. | ||
| US | New York City | Metropolitan Museum of Art | Nice collection of European¸ Japanese¸ Greek armour and weapons. | ||
| US | New York State | West Point Museum | Has one of the best collections of swords I have ever seen. |
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| US | NY | Fort Ticonderoga | Very small but truly fantastic collection of swords used in the American Revolution. There is also¸ for those who are interested¸ a collection of colonial firearms¸ and a collection of engraved powder horns. |
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| US | Ohio | Cleveland Museum of Art | Has a saal or two or three on all kinds of pointy objects to include one really nice saal for European Armour and weapons... has several really nice Bidenhaender. | ||
| US | Oklahoma | Arms and Historical Center | J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Center a.k.a. The J.M Davis Gun Museum 333 Lynn Riggs Blvd. Claremore¸ Oklahoma. The name of this museum says it all and what it is all about. However¸ there are numerous swords on display in this museum from different time periods and nations. For those in swords or guns this place is one of the best! The hours are from 8:30am to 5pm M-Sat. and 1 to 5 on Sunday. | ||
| US | Philadelphia | Philadelphia Museum of Art | Philadelphia Museum of Art. On the second floor there is a rather extensive collection of armor and armaments. It ranges from early Bronze age¸ through full suits of armor and sweords and hunting weapons of all types. Most of the collection was from a single private donation and was left in a will to the museum. Interestingly¸ the museums board was split on whether to accept it at the time. Some board members felt that these items weren´t "art". Fortunately these members were in the minority. Also note that on Sunday the museum is open on a pay what you want basis. Best of luck on your list. | ||
| US | Rhode Island | Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection | Located at Brown University. Foremost American collection devoted to the study of military uniforms and the history and iconography of soldiers and military affairs. Co-located with a major British sword collection | ||
| US | Rhode Island | Brown University | Swords are located in the Annmary Brown Memorial. Home of the Mazansky Collection of British swords. | ||
| US | Sacramento | California Military Museum | Sacramento California. It has a very good display of military uniforms¸ weapons and all military collectibles including many many swords. | ||
| US | South Carolina | Museum of Charleston | Small but exceptionally nice collection of swords. Perhaps the rarest were the two diplomatic swords of the Pinckneys¸ as ambassador and aide to France. I have attached a photo. They had a number of other very fine swords¸ but these "wowed" me. |
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| US | Southern Oregon | Museum of Jacksonville | HLocated in Jacksonville it has an 1850 foot officer´s sword with the seal of the state of New York that makes me¸ if you will pardon my admitting it¸ drool. | ||
| US | Valley Forge | Neumann Collection | Revolutionary War Swords |
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| US | Virginia | Museum of the Confederacy | Located in Richmond there are lots of swords here. | ||
| US | Virginia | Mt Vernon Museum | Small but rather nice collection of Swords and other implements tied to their origional users. | ||
| US | Washington D.C | Museum of the Society of the Cincinnati | Has some treasures | ||
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