HISTORIC KNIGHTS OF SAINT JOHN SWORD

Late 19th century, dating to the restoration of the order, associated with Freemasons, in 1879 by appointment of a Grand Master by Pope Leo XIII. Patterned after the French M.1882 Infantry sword, as is the US M.1902 sword for all officers. The scabbard with the Maltese cross and K St. J monogram. The Knights of St. John were given Malta in 1530. They developed fortifications and fought Barbary Coast and Ottoman pirates, maintaining stability in the Mediterranean. The age of exploration and colonization fostered increased privateering which they fought as well. The Knights held Malta until 1798 when Napoleon overtook it. While later examples of the cruciform type are to be found, we found no other examples of this pattern.