December 10, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2019
Lot consists of: two US Model 1850 Staff and Field Officer's Swords with scabbards. These were the Civil War regulation swords for officers ranking Major and above, and for officers doing staff duty at regimental level or above, all of whom would serve mounted, requiring longer blades and sturdier metal scabbards than foot officers. Both swords are brass hilted with open work guards filled with floral motifs and a cutout "US" between the branches in the counterguard. Grips are grey sharkskin bound with twisted wire. (A) Blade is deeply etched with the William H. Horstmann and Son, Philadelphia etched on the obverse above the ricasso. Above that is a panoply of arms, floral scrolls with American, shield and arms, eagle with E Pluribus Unum ribbon overhead with more floral scroll and flame-ended panel. Reverse has geometric and floral panel, two panoplies of arms, etched "US", floral scrolls and flame ended panel. Reverse ricasso with king's-head mark of Gebruder Weyersberg of Solingen, blade makers with whom Horstmann has a long-standing association. (B) Unmarked. Plain blade. CONDITION: (A) Metal is bright and etching is vivid. Small patches of raised rust for 6" near the tip. Light on the obverse. More severe on the reverse, but both sides should clean and neither touches the etching. Sharkskin and single twisted wire in place on the grip. Untouched patina to brass. Plain scabbard mounts. Scabbard in the white. Four small dings on lower scabbard. (B) Aged patina to brass hilt. Sharkskin in place. Coiled wire binding with short section of flanking single wires. Good brown to scabbard. Mounts are plain with simple punch dots on bands. Blade shows smooth silver grey with some brown spots. Faint trace of palmette at obverse base indicating it was cleaned a long time ago.
Blade Length
(A) 31 - 3/4" (B) 31 - 5/8"
Overall Length
(A) 38" (B) 37 - 3/8"