November 3-4, 2017 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/3/2017
Probably circa 1840 and featuring a unique guard with Naval motifs. Straight imported blade with single fullers and partially blued blade and gilt decorated foliate designs and arms motifs. Silver-plated cast brass hilt with shell guard featuring relief chased Naval motifs, including a fouled anchor, three-masted ship, a patriotic eagle, and Lady Liberty. Knuckle bow chased with shells and a Liberty cap in an oval. Eagle pommel with triangular border, mother-of-pearl grip scales with braided brass wire. Complete with scabbard, ornately decorated with chiseled and engraved foliate and cast from stud. Blade retains much of thinning blue finish, somewhat turned brown, and gilt decoration, otherwise grey with some scattered spotting and freckling. Hilt retains about 70-80% silver finish and shows some light wear, grips with some minor chipping around pommel. Scabbard retains 80-85% silver finish, much turned to dark patina, with some minor denting. This is a unique sword that has never been encountered by the cataloguers before. For an example with a similar hilt and form, see page 543 of "Civil War Army Swords" by John H. Thillmann.