December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
An early and rather unusual Federal era silver-hilted saber by Jacob Schaffer (fl. 1795-1830) of Washington, Pennsylvania, one of a near-matched pair that came out of a Washington estate some years back, along with a silver-mounted dirk. Outside of this pair, only two other Schaffer swords are known, both bearing his later War of 1812 era touchmark (former Latimer Collection and Hartzler collections). This short saber has stirrup-hilt of silver, with a carved, spiral-grooved grip of ebony. The pommel cap is domed and without capstan, while the counterguard is marked ‘J. SCHAFFER’ in a cartouch. What is most unique about both this saber and its former companion is that they both have what appear to be early examples of American-made, blued and gilded blades of rather unique form—the blades not being etched or engraved prior to application of the bluing and gilt decoration. The bluing runs 12 ½ in. down the blade from the ricasso, and while 95% of the bluing remains, the gilded devices, which include a frog-legged eagle, panoplies of arms, wreath, shield, 8-pointed star and ‘E PLURIBUS UNUM’, are now faintly discernable unless viewed under raking light, as the gilded designs were applied sans etching and thus, more easily rubbed away over time. The blade itself is single-edged, with a narrow fuller and 30 1/4 in. L x 1 1/4 in. W at ricasso. The leather scabbard has silver mounts, consisting of ringed throat and middle-band, plus drag; the mounts are beautifully engraved in a distinct, Pennsylvania-German style, with floral and stars motifs reminiscent of designs seen in fraktur work, as well as a Federal shield over crossed laurels at the top of the throat.