This Tyler’s Sword was donated to the Museum in 2024.
The Blade of the Sword is made of Steel and the Handle is brass with various Masonic Symbols, the scabbard is also decorated with brass with two rings to allow it to hang from a belt, unfortunately there are no makers marks to be able to date and identify where it was produced.
At the top of the Sword or the “pommel” is the Square and Compasses set in the Second Degree, the pommel is at the near end of the complete sword, at the top of the handle. It is meant to act as a counterweight to the blade so that the sword doesn’t feel so heavy in the hand. In general, heavy blades are matched with heavy pommels, and light blades with light pommels or even no pommel at all. But this is not a hard and fast rule. For instance, military sabres usually have no counterweight, so that cutting motions are harder to stop.
At the top of the scabbard in the centre of the brass design is the triangle and behind that the rays of the sun. the triangle being the symbol of Deity.
The role of the Tyler is an important position in the Lodge the Tyler is protect the Lodge from all intruders while it is open and to help prepare and check that candidates are properly prepared and will check the eligibility of any late coming Brethren, he will usually present the final toast at the Festive Board the Tyler Toast.
