December 10, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2019
Lot consists of: two American cavalry sabers patterned on the British 1796 pattern light cavalry saber that were very popular with mounted officers and troops from 1800 and the War of 1812 into the 1840's. Both have reverse-P hilts with birdshead pommels, crossguards with langets, etched blades and metal scabbards, likely Birmingham made, but certainly for the American market. (A) Mounted with gilt brass hilt and scabbard. Bone grip is carved with bands and spiral grooves. Blade is blue, gilt, and bright etched. Obverse is drypoint etched with two floral motifs and a panoply of arms, all gold washed on blue, separated by two etched bright panels. The blue terminates in a flame-like, scrolling, floral spray. Reverse has a similar arrangement of etched motifs, but the panoply has the dealer name "Spies" in an arc. Adam Spies began his career as an apprentice working for Christopher and D.D. Wolfe, and even represented that firm in England for several years before striking out on his own in New York. CONDITION: Excellent hilt with no chipping to grip and significant gilt on the brass. Reverse etching rubbed slightly just above the ricasso and on the obverse some grey spotting on the blue floral flourish ending the panel at mid-blade. Bright, smooth metal above the blue panel on both sides. Scabbard is very good, no gilt remaining, but mellow brass and no dents. Throat and rings in place. (B) Faceted iron hilt showing mostly bright. Backstrap has side ears. Ferrule is faceted as well. Grip is black leather with thin iron wire, set in three twisted strands. Blade is drypoint etched and gold washed on a blue panel terminating in floral spray and scroll. Obverse with gilt scrolling foliage with a pole and liberty cap at center. A broad American eagle with upraised wings and E Pluribus Unum ribbon in its beak and somewhat square shield on its chest has floral scrolls above and below. Reverse of blade has gilt trophy of arms at bottom with "WARRANTED" in a cloud edged scroll. Above that a mounted dragoon flourishes his saber, with a small panoply of arms overhead and two scrolling floral sections that mirror the termination of the blue panel in floral scrolls. The blade has a broad tip and an impressive kilij style back edge extending ten inches from the tip. CONDITION: Two loose strands of wire on the grip. Minor dark spotting on the hilt. Vivid gold and blue on the blade, which has a good edge and point. Scattered grey spotting to the bright metal above the blue panels on either side. Blue panels retain most of their gilt border lines at the edges. A rubbed gilt panel 2-1/2" long on the back edge next to the guard probably contained a US retailer's name. This is an impressive pair of American sabers from the early 1800s.
Blade Length
(A) 31" (B) 33"
Overall Length
(A) 35 - 1/2" (B) 38"