Knights Templar - In Hoc Signo Vinces
This photograph is of a Masonic Knights Templar symbol showing a cross within a crown inside a Maltese cross, which has the Latin phrase, “in hoc signo vinces.” The phrase means “in this sign you shall conquer” and was used by Constantine as a military motto in the early 4th Century. The phrase was also used by the original Knights Templar military order that was founded during the Crusades. The Freemasons began using Templar rituals and symbols in the late 1700s.
Knights Templar legends and myths are quite popular in movies and books such as The Da Vinci Code, Foucault’s Pendulum, National Treasure, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Some also see parallels between the Jedi Knights of Star Wars and the Knights Templar military order.
Photo: from the mausoleum of Dr. J.G. Locke, Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Colorado
November 19, 2006 at 9:32 pm
we have stumbled on apparently an old Templar sword. the emblem IN HOC SIGNO VINCES is on this piece around a cross at what appears to be a 33 degree angle. We are trying to find out as much as we can as to it’s age and history. The sword has what appears to be an ivory handle. It was made for a Thomas Henry Rosenberger. The sword company making it is Henderson Ames. Can you help us in our search
November 24, 2006 at 8:09 pm
we have a dress sword with the name of my great grandfather inscribed on it. he was a member of the masons at the turn of the century in columbus ohio. the sword was made by Mclilley Co in columbus ohio. his inscribed name was John Thomas
December 5, 2006 at 8:22 am
Would be most interested to see detailed photographs of sword
U.S. KT swords tend to be of high quality and if old tend to be named for the wearer.
I have purchased a number of them over the years, which I regularly use at KT meetings here in the UK. You will often see examples for sale on Ebay which will allow you to get an idea of the value of your sword. Personally I feel they are always a good talking point. Also maybe you would be interested in becoming a Freemason, oh yes there are many Ladies and Mens lodges. You only have to ask any Freemason and they will be delighted to talk to you. We are not a secret society, we are however a society with some matters that we consider to be private. You will also find out that The United States of America was founded on Masonic principles and that in your oath of allegence you are quoting a Masonic obligation. Even you famous Greenback $1 bill carries the all seeing eye, a masonic pyramid and the rays of heaven. All masonic symbols
Best regards to you accross the other side of the pond
January 21, 2007 at 6:42 pm
I have purchased a sword insrcibed with the name of Archibald B. Falcoxxer. Can you give me any info on the age of the sword and value. It is in very good condition it also holds the In Hoc Signo Vinces (The McLilley & Co-Columbus Ohio) inscribed on the sword. The sword has an ivory handle with a cross on one side of it, and it has a insignia on the opposit side it also has silver scabbered with it and a number 71 on the back side. It is in very good condition. I am just interested in its origin.
Respectfully,
Carl E. Poynter Jr.
January 31, 2007 at 1:45 pm
I have a sword from my GrandFather, I was trying to find information about this sword, sounds like the same type of sword everyone else is describing in this forum.
Looks very old, and has an Ivory handle.
It also has underneath the handle enscribed in it (The McLilley & Co. Columbas Ohio) The sword has 2 crosses on it. On the blade of the sword, it has fancy engravings of knights in armor, etc. The handle of the sword has a knight in armor head above the ivory handle. The sword also has a quote engraved into it: In Hoc Signo Vin CES.
I would like to find out more about this sword and it’s origin and approximate age of the sword and if anyone knows about the value of this sword, I would appreciate your help.
It has a name of Edward A Eagle on the sword.
Lookforward to hearing anyones reply if they know about this type of sword.
Thank you
Jeff Pettis
February 17, 2007 at 12:35 am
SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE LATE 1800`S,EARLY 1900`S MASONIC TEMPLAR SWORD …GIVEN TO MASONS AND HANDED DOWN USUALLY WITHIN FAMILIES OR BY MASONIC FRATERNAL SPONSORSHIP BETROTHAL….VALUES VARY WITH CONDITION OBVIOUSLY BUT RANGE ANYWHERE FROM $50 TO $500
February 17, 2007 at 12:38 am
THE ENGRAVED NAMES ARE MORE THAN LIKELY THE NAME OF THE ORIGINAL HOLDER OF THE SWORD
May 3, 2007 at 6:58 am
I inherited a sword manufactured by the Mc Lilley Co. from Columbus, Ohio.
It has the name C. W. Mac Bride inscribed on the sword. If anyone has any information pertaining to the story of this sword or its value, I would appreciate hearing from you. Both sword and sheath are in very good condition. The sword has the words IN HOC SIGNO VINCES inscribed in the handle, and the letter K to the left and the letter T to the right of the In Hoc Signo Vinces words.
The sheath has very ornate horsemen riding towards each other with what looks like palm trees in their midst.
Any information is greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Tara Orlando
May 29, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Recently visited the grave of a friend’s grandfather. She couldn’t tell me what the badge on his headstone symbolized. It’s a flower-like shape with the initials E, C, W, U, F in each of it’s five “petals.” There is a pentagon with a cross, a crown, and a maltese cross in the center.
Sounds like he could have been a Freemason, but what do the initials stand for?
June 3, 2007 at 5:24 pm
I have found my grandfathers sword it has castle and knight designs on the blade it is inscribed with Ralph C. Dawsons name. It is made by the M.C. LILLEY & CO. COLUMBUS OHIO. In the middle Guard there is a crown and inside of the crown, there is a cross it has the inscription that says In Hoc Signo Vinces. On the Pommel there is a knights head. Connecting from the Pommel to the Guard there is a gold chain. On the grip there is a cross.
June 16, 2007 at 8:58 pm
The MARSH/MARCH Family motto is: “In Hoc Signo Vinces” and the Marsh Coat of Arms has a Knight’s head, a gold chain and also a cross. I do not know if there are any relationship.
Should you find any relationship, please let me know.
June 16, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Please reply
July 3, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Oh all of you get real for just one second please!!
There is 720 types of Cristian crosses with 19 different undergroups.
Please try to get some basic knowledgement. THIS IS NOT A MALTESERCROSS
Go in on the official site of Malta and also The order of S:t John. This cross on the foto have NOTHING AT ALL to do with Malta or the OSJ.
I my family ( in officiall records in the Swedish house of Nobles) history we have ansestors in the year of 1234 knights of OSJ.
O tempora o mores o diem perdidi……….
You all make me so tired so tired…….. (not a translating of the latin above)
Start learning the basic….
Eric S. (Sparre means Sparr)
July 3, 2007 at 8:59 pm
By the way…. all of you should get to the sources of truth in this matters. We have all the know how about this in Europe. You can get help from experts on museums in London, Stockholm, Köln, Paris, Tomar, Madrid, Rome, Luxemburg, just to mention a few cities with international experts of swords from the period of 600 - 1900.
There is even an original Knights Templar-Castle for sale in Italy for only 6 million Euro and is in perfect shape. you can move in on the spot. 2 others will be for sale in coming years as i saw on the Castle/Estate sales agency of Europe. If you are interested to buy a real by museums confirmated KnigtsTemplar spearhead, and a longknife there is just a few in fair conditions for sale in Sweden and in England in Europe. There was an international exhebition of KnigtsTemplar arcefacts in Polen for Two Years ago.
Good luck but remember go to the real sources for real knowledgement.
Eric S
July 3, 2007 at 9:19 pm
All your Swords are new made in factorys. Please try to understand that there has never been an authentic so called “Templar-sword” with markings as all yours have.
You can see on authentic swords in the museums i mentioned in the comment above.
Please try to understand that the real Order of the Militie militae Templi doesnt exist any moore, it is just fiction. But there is one order wich still have treasure the legacy of them, the Order of Christ of Jerusalem, Tomar in Portugal. But Please leave them alone.
There is also 2 other parts of the world wich is totaly monastic and NOT open to the secular society wich have hidden a lot of the history of the “poor Knights of Crist”.
If you realy are interested of the lives of these Orders, surch for nearest monestary of Cisterciens och even better The Order of the Benedict. there can you find the real life of the poor knights of Crist (TempleKnights).
Last remark from me……Seek God instead of anything else….seek God.
Eric S
July 9, 2007 at 12:06 pm
The swords described above resemble the Masonic Knight Templar swords used in the United States. Some of the swords can date back to the beginnings of KT in the US. Most of the swords described above were made by one company in Ohio, and was a well known manufactor of Masonic regalia(?). It was a very common event to have the name of the purchaser of the sword engraved on the sword. This practice still exists today. Since the middle of the 1800s to the middle of the 1900s the KT in the US were very numerous and therefore the swords were very common. The value of each sword is different, based upon condition, the actual history of the sword and its contents, such as gold and ivory, etc. Please contact a local Masonic Lodge to help you research these swords.
Thanks
July 12, 2007 at 10:14 am
this is the emblem for the royal black preceptory
August 4, 2007 at 4:38 pm
i have a silver coin with in hoc signo vinces on the reverse with regina maria and a crown with 4 x’s underneath——any ideas???
October 28, 2007 at 8:36 am
Brian-
Most KT orgainzations sell such coins as fund raisers for the lodge, or the KT charities. The Templar Eye foundation is a big charity. Usually they are found in the back of the KT magazine published monthly. Cost is around $5-$10.
If it is silver it might be an older coin. I don’t think we’re on to anything new by selling coins with our motto on them to raise money for charity. I think our membership has been minting coins for sale for a long time to raise money.
November 2, 2007 at 4:45 pm
For the Constantinian motto “In Hoc Signo Vinces”, type it into wikipedia.com. It is also a permutation of letters which also mean “knowing the vine of Jesus of Jerusalem” or the lineage of Jesus. It derives from the Emperor Constantine the Great, and was assumed by a few noble families in Europe, such as the Earl of Arran (Sudley), and even earlier by the(Irish) “O’Donnell of Tyrconnell” nobility, some of whom are also Knights of Malta, and one of whom is a Commander of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. The motto of that nobiliary order is also “In Hoc Signo Vinces”. The motto was bestowed, along with the Red Cross coat-of-arms, by Saint Patrick on Conall, the son of the Irish High King Niall, ancestor of the O’Donnells. The O’Donnells came to power in Tyrconnell at the time that the Knights Templar were being abolished/banished. Some came to Sligo (Templemore) and Donegal, and under O’Donnell protection then went to Scotland. The name O’Donnell is no accident. It is Gaelic for World Ruler or in Latin, Rex Mundi, a Cathar concept. Many O’Donnells hold key positions of power, in the British government one is the head of the civil service; another is the Duke of Tetuan in Spain; others are counts in Austria, barons in Ireland, and run part of the United Nations, and one Argentinian O’Donnell is a top political advisor to the USA and UN. Others included a Cardinal, several Generals, Ministers, and the Apostle of Newfoundland. The top O’Donnells are also descended from Irish, Scottish, English, Merovingian, Hungarian, and Scandinavian kings, and from the Makhir of Narbonne, as well as from the Caesars (see Charles Mosley’s Blood Royal book). Their family saint is Columba/Colmcille who brought Christianity to Scotland, and was an O’Donnell. Their oldest manuscript was written by him, and is Ireland’s most ancient, over 1500 years old, the Cathach.
November 7, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Wow. yes the Templars were removed from Malta and scattered throughout the world. Their society still exists today and their rituals are intact. The swords you all are asking about were issued to Knights Templar when they were Knighted. The sword companies no longer exist as many closed during the depression. Their value is directly proportional to your family lineage. If your husband or son becomes a Knight, through Masonry, the sword would be of a great value. They range from 50 -250 on average, with some unfortunately being scammed for as high as 2,000 in Reno. They have ivory handles and are ceremonial in nature….
November 20, 2007 at 6:18 am
I am a treasure hunter , and I have just fund this Matel of In hoc signo vinces it is brass or copper not sure .Can anybody tell me more?
November 26, 2007 at 7:38 pm
they have made an Xbox 360 game referring to the knights templar. it is called Assassin’s Creed. from what i heard, it is a great game.
November 28, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Well, I fund out that the madlion I was brass.It is around the 17th centurey.Don’t no what it is about in money.but it is a nice little thing to hang on to till I find out more.I headed to some old spanches forts on the river in Fla. we will see what we find ther ?My spelling may not be right But maybe you will understand .I will try and get a pic on this madlion for you folks.Later your friend Ken Kerwin Echols county Ga
December 16, 2007 at 8:21 pm
I have a Dagger about 20 inches pulled out of the river, it is very old. It appears to be spanish, but one thing has thrown me for a loop. It has the cross and crown, it doesnt have any writting on it, it was found in a place where Desoto was in 1540. Is it possible that any one knows what this is, feel free to write me ill send pics. Armadamk@aol.com
January 2, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I have one of these swords with “William Cullen Bryant” as the engraved name. Anyone know what that might be worth?
March 29, 2008 at 1:13 am
A “contact” to a tribal shaman?
An aura from TLE patient?
A true vision from God to a Roman Emperor … with bloodlines to the “sacred disease”?
No . . . I think all are just bloody wrong … misinterpreted by the selfish.
My God’s better than your god . . . nah, nah, nah-nah, nah.
See this book–See this sign–It says I’m justified killing you for your “whatever”.
Amen.
April 11, 2008 at 7:03 pm
i have a sword that appears to be of masonic origin,it has what appears to be a knights head gear on the top of the handle and a lot of ingraving with the name Dick Ross on the face side of the blade, i would like to learn more about the origin in regard to this piece
April 19, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I have a M.C. Lilley sword with IN HOC SIGNA VINCES on it. Also with the name of Fred A. Fogle on the blade. Is there any chance someone can give me any info on how old it is or how much it is worth. Any info would be much appreciated. Thank You, Ricky B.
April 21, 2008 at 4:38 pm
These Knights Templar swords are regalia of the Masonic concordant body of Knights Templars. They (KT org) have a website if you want to learn more about them. As far as the sword manafucturers, common: M.C. Lilly Co. - sold to C.E. Ward Co. (New London, OHIO) in 1951. In 1987 - C.E. Ward sold to Ames Sword Co. who also has a website. I believe the ‘ivory’ in the hilt is actually scrimshaw. If swords are in less than pristine condition, Ames website indicates they do repairs. There are also other companies on the internet that offer repair/restoration. What a treasure to hang on your wall!
May 3, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I have been given a sword from a family member that was made by the McLilley Company in Columbus Ohio, it has saveral distinctive markings but has the name either D.G. Lawrence or B.G. Lawarence. I have had it looked at by a few people who know and deal with swords I feel that i truely belongs to a family and needs to be returned, the genltmen that have looked at this sword say it is worth quite a bit of money and I really would like to get it back to its rightful owner!!! If anyone has any information on this please reply!!!
May 31, 2008 at 9:09 am
CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME OF ANYONE WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IF A PERSON WERE TO FIND ESOTERIC ARTSCRIPTURE FROM 8TH CENTURY KNIGHT TEMPLARS OF SPAIN AND THE ANSWER TO WHERE THE HOLY GRAIL CAN BE TRULYFOUND UNDER CASTLE OUREM PORTUGAL AND A CITY MADE OF GOLD NAMED QUIVIRA.
July 4, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Is Hoc Signo Vinces means In God We Conquer
July 9, 2008 at 9:57 am
Um, there is NO WAY that symbol is a maltease cross. The Cross in the picture is a cross pattee
The Maltese Cross is the symbol of the knights hospitallers and came into use in the 1500s Althought the Hospitallers and the templars were formed around the same time in 1100s, the templars were wiped out or went underground (depending on who you believe) in early 1300s The Hospitallers didnt even go to malta until 1530