The blade is in good condition. It is clean and bright with no nicks on the edge but there is some light pitting on the last third of the blade. The etching is still very pronounced. The decoration on the blade consists of the usual scrollwork designs with a square knot, an anchor, “U.S.N.” in a riband and an eagle on one side and a mast with “U.S.N.” flag, an oval of stars and a US shield over an anchor on the other. This side also has the owners name “N. McL. McDONALD U.S.N.” The ricasso is marked on one side with a Star of David with dots between the points and on the opposite side with “FINEST QUALITY” in two lines. The white buff leather washer is still present under the guard. The hilt has a sharkskin grip with a twisted wire wrap. Brass pommel cap has an eagle surrounded by thirteen stars on the top. Knuckle bow and counterguard are also of brass. The knuckle bow starts in the form of a dolphin at top next to the pommel cap and widens as it comes around into the counterguard which is decorated with a scrollwork design and a riband with “U.S.N.” on the underside. The guard ends with a quillion in the shape of a dolphin. The black leather scabbard is in nice condition with both mounts and rings. Mounts are decorated on both sides with a decoration of embossed twisted rope. Brass throat as engraved intertwined initials “NMM.” Brass drag is complete but missing anchor screw. All brass parts have a light patina.

Norman McLeod McDonald was born September 7, 1880 in Troy New York. Nothing is known of his early life and education. Records indicate he joined the Navy on December 29, 1913 as a Machinist. At the time he enlisted he was living in Syracuse. He served aboard the USS FLORIDA starting in February 1914 and was on the ship till 1919. While on the USS FLORIDA he held the temporary ranks of Ensign, Lt. JG. and Lt. Then there is a gap in the record. He shows up again as a Lieutenant with date of rank as December 2, 1922 and shows as retired on January 1, 1934. He returned to duty as a Lieutenant Commander on June 16, 1942 but the last entry for him in the records is in 1943. His job during WW2 is not known nor how long his service was. It is known that he died November 4, 1964. He is buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!