December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
A classic example of a British-made, military sword for the American market prior to the outbreak of the War of 1812. It is a straight-bladed spadroon with classic, faceted pillow-pommel hilt with 5 balls decorating the knucklebow, as commonly used by British foot officers beginning in 1788 until a new pattern was adopted in 1796. This form was popular with American officers starting in the early 1790s and it fully complies with the specifications given for US Infantry officers' swords with its silver or "white" mounts and straight, "cut-and-thrust" blade, prescribed for that branch since 1798. 38 in. L overall, it has a single-edged, wide-fullered blade that is 32 1/4 in. L and 1 3/16 in. W at ricasso. The blade was etched and blued for 50% of its length, the etched motifs consisting of various martial motifs with some floral framing. Centered on the right side is a scroll with "AMERICAN INFANTRY" is surmounted by the figure of a woman (representing Liberty or America) and holding a palm; opposite it on the left is a spread-wing American eagle between two scrolls bearing the words "UNITED" and "STATES", an arms panoply between it and another scroll bearing the makers' names: "WOOLEY, DEAKIN & Co." The partnership of James Woolley and Thomas Deakin, sword cutlers of Birmingham, is discussed in Lankester, P., 'New light on the partnership of James Woolley and Thomas Deakin', Arms & Armour, Vol. I, pp. 159-164 (Leeds, 2004). The partnership existed from 1790, with Deakin as the junior partner - whose name as such appeared in Birmingham trade directories after 1800; in 1809, the two partners were joined by two others and the name changed, which allows us to provide an approximate date range of c. 1800-1810 for this particular sword. CONDITION: The blade a dark pewter grey with approximately 30-35% of the bluing and gilding remaining, with scattered light patches of oxidation; the silver mounts moderately bright with dark patches and evidence of an open side branch to crossguard, probably purposely removed during the period; the ribbed ivory grip is bright and clean, with a 1-inch age crack behind the silver ferrule at top.