June 12-13, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/12/2019
This saber, probably French in origin, is accompanied by a detailed letter from Giuliano Cipolla. He explains that he purchased this sword in 2001 from a descendant of Captain, later Major, James Parr. Parr fought most of the Revolutionary War in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment under the command of Captain Danial Morgan. After the battle of Saratoga, he states that Captain Parr was presented this sword from a high-ranking French officer who volunteered under Colonel Morgan. The presenter was a General in the French Army and gave Parr his sword before returning to France. Parr reportedly carried this sword for the remainder of his service. He was one of the select marksmen that Washington utilized to tun the tide of the war. This fine sword has a slightly curved blade with a wide shallow fuller and a narrow partial fuller along the spine, there is a 7" false edge towards the tip. The finely made brass hilt is engraved with single line borders and has a straight guard with languettes. The knuckle bow has a three-ball design and is constructed with dovetail joints. The grip is black enameled wood decorated with twin strands of braided brass wire. The sword is complete with a black leather scabbard with embossed gilt brass mounts decorated with foliate designs and stippled grounds. CONDITION: Blade retains a grey patina and shows a series of nicks on the edge, probably from battle use. The hilt has a mellow patina and some scattered marks. Grip very good. Scabbard mounts have some minor denting and throat mount shows generous traces of gilt finish around shield-shaped frog stud. Leather has had some added finish and surface shows crazing and cracking. Scabbard has been modified for languettes, meaning that it is possibly associated. A fine saber with a very interesting attribution.
Paperwork
Previous Owner statement