Blankwaffen Forum (https://www.deutsches-blankwaffenforum.de/index.php)
-- Fragebereich (https://www.deutsches-blankwaffenforum.de/board.php?id=278)
---- Fragen zu Blankwaffen (https://www.deutsches-blankwaffenforum.de/board.php?id=85)
Thema: Initials SH on a Solingen[?] blade ca.1820-1830. (https://www.deutsches-blankwaffenforum.de/topic.php?id=2190)

Hello, friends.
This is an American general's or high-ranking officer's sword ca.1825. Blade is marked SH . Any ideas on who is the maker of the blade? Me feeling is that it is a Solingen firm.

Thank you!!!

Hello Dmitry,

the blade was most probably forged in Solingen. The complete marking should read "SHF" for "Samuel Hoppe Fils" or "Samuel Hoppe Freres" meaning Samuel Hoppes sons/brothers.
But I have to admit, that this is just a possibility. You might take a look on this page:

http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3083

there the whole thing is discussed.
My personal guess is that F stands for fils, because checking in the Stadtarchiv in Solingen gave no hint for any brothers of Samuel Hoppe, but he definitely had sons who took over the firm. But this is a long story and takes more time than just these few lines
The Hoppe theory is also kept up by Lhoste/Buigne who also provide another name: Simon Helvig also in Solingen. But for this one I have found no other reference in my books, sorry.
I hope this helps.

All the best

William/Tobias