December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
American officer's spadroon marketed by Davis and Brown of Boston. Overall length: 39in.; blade length: 32 1/2 in. The gilt-brass hilt has a knuckleguard with three loops with standing flowers at the joints on either side, terminating at the with four-sided urn pommel--each faced with an inset panel of bellflowers--and pronounced capstan, with a ribbed grip of white bone. The blade with 14-1/2 in. blued panels on each side, the obverse bears a small, illegible blade stamp at base of blade, with "Davis and Brown" in scroll over oval with "Warranted" and "Boston" above the ricasso on a leaf background. American eagle with 15 stars overhead above and foliate scroll. Reverse with 'G' stamp for Gill as blade maker, with three floral and one panoply of arms, drypoint-etched and gilt-washed; good edge and point; bright metal mixed with some grey mottling above the blue and minor spots of same within the blueing. Davis and Brown were active in the military goods business in Boston from about 1802-1820 and this fine sword was likely a pre-War of 1812 import, judging by both its form and components. CONDITION: A fine sword retaining more than 90% of the original finish to the gilt-brass mounts (rubbing loss at the high points, notably the pommel) and most of the blueing and gilding to blade; the grip has lengthwise narrow crack on reverse, but is otherwise fine and stable. Black leather scabbard has a repaired break approximately 8 in. above the chape or drag; the latter matches the form of the throat and middle-band (which are of gilt-brass with approximately 70% of the gilding remaining), yet shows no trace of gilding on the brass--suggesting that it is a replacement. PROVENANCE: ex. collection, George M. Rapport.