April 27-30, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2021
This non-regulation U.S. foot officer’s sword follows the French 1821 pattern, which is close in appearance to the U.S. 1850 patterns, themselves versions of a French 1845 pattern, but the brass hilt has a single short side branch from the knucklebow and narrow counterguard. Marked examples from Horstmann and Sauerbier are known, as well as examples made by Clauberg and even a version by Ames. (See, Thillmann, CW Army Swords, 414ff.) The hilt is cast and chased with floral motifs on the pommel, knucklebow, end of the side branch, and the quillon. The white grip wrap is bound with a double wire, slightly loose, but present. The scabbard is black leather with plain brass mounts and set up both with carrying rings and a spade-shaped frog stud. The blade is not etched, but is deeply engraved on the obverse is “A. Wilson” and on the reverse, “Long Island Riflemen.” This was a New York militia company formed in July 1852 in the Williamsburg, Brooklyn, section of NY City and listed as an “Independent German Military Company.” It does not seem to have entered the Civil War as a unit, but Wilson is likely Adolf Wilson, who served as a lieutenant in the United Turner Rifles, a German unit with a large number of Williamsburg residents. He is listed as enrolling at age 42 in NY City to serve 2 years, mustering in as first lieutenant of Co. I on 6 May 1861 and being commissioned 4 July 1861 with rank from May 3. The regiment left the state 13 June 1861 and during Wilson’s service was posted at Fort Monroe on the Virginia peninsula, for a time the last foothold of the U.S. government on Virginia soil. Wilson was on the rolls of the regiment when they saw their first action at Hampton Bridge on August 7, but his age put him among the older soldiers and he resigned 14 August 1861 for ill health. He was later a member of Sam Curtis Post 44 G.A.R. The engraved script maker or retailer mark on the ricasso seems to be Rohrig, a Solingen company known to supply swords to the American market during the Civil War. CONDITION: Fine-near excellent. Significant gilt remaining on the hilt. Blade is clean, showing bright metal with some scattered gray spots. Capstan pommel button shows some darkening and dings. Scabbard showing some age and wear, but is solid and complete. SR