November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
1834 pattern US officer's sword with brass hilt and gilt brass scabbard. Globe pommel with simple incised lines. Knucklebow with raised dot design, joining crossguard at quillon block, boat-shape guard slotted at bottom, and closed at top with an open heart. Wood core of grip present with good patina, stamped sheet silver faux-wire wrap missing. Blade is spadroon form, straight, single edge transitioning to double edge midway with single fuller tapering off at that point. Blade shows light traces of blue to about that point with etched martial and floral motifs: lance with pennant and drum on one side, with cannon on the other, both with thin scrolling vine above. Some gilt fill visible. Scabbard is gilt brass, made without frog stud, carrying rings missing. Reverse plain, obverse engraved with rosette and floral spray 4" long starting 5" from scabbard mouth. 12" section of flowing flowering vine with central rosette at bottom to within 5" of scabbard tip. Scabbard marked XII near mouth. No throat. With original bullion/brocade officer's sword knot. The inside of the guard is professionally engraved: "Joseph Mort / Company K 7th / Maryland Infantry" with the company letter and regimental number in block letters and the rest in script. Research with the sword posits Joseph Mort of Company B, 7th Maryland in the Civil War (died in 1864) as owner; however, not only is the company designation different, that Joseph Mort was a private. The unit was most likely pre-war Maryland militia, though an early family sword might have been carried later. Possible pre-war owners might include Joseph Mort, born in Maryland 1811, moved to Pennsylvania about 1840, and died in Ohio 1862, though we have not confirmed militia service. The sword is nevertheless interesting Maryland piece, the inscription real, and worthy of further research. CONDITION: Very good. Grip wrap missing as noted. Guard and scabbard with remnants of gilt and underlying brass bright.
Paperwork
Folder of Research