December 10, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2019
Lot consists of: (A) 1832 US Army short sword with white buff belt. Used as an artillery short sword and also early on as an NCO sword. Early manufacture with "United States 1833" and "[Eagle] / N.P. Ames / Springfield" stamps on the ricasso. Correct "S. Huse / Newburyport" marked hilt on underside of guard, along with a "DT" inspector's initials in an oval. The eagle is posed with tucked wings, atop arrows and olive branch looking to the viewer's left over the olive branch. Thillmann remarks this is a "very rare" stamp found on 1833 dated blades. See US Army Swords, p.43. CONDITION: Very good. Hilt has aged patina, good definition to eagles cast at pommel. Very legible hilt and blade marks with just some rubbing on the eagle. Blade is bright with gray areas and some brown. Edge has nicks, several shallow along one edge and one deeper on the other. Scabbard solid with some crackling and wear to leather, but good color. Belt excellent. Cream color to buff, some dirt, disks with S-link in place. Disks show American eagle on one, crossed cannons and US on the other. No visible maker or contractor stamp, but likely Dingee. Age patina to brass disks. (B) Eagle head militia sword ca. 1835-50. Brass hilt and scabbard. Incised bone grip. Chain guard. Open-beak eagle. Rounded crossguard with acorn finials, shell langets. 1832/34 style blade. Floral and military etched motifs include American eagle with stars and E Pluribus Unum motto overhead without ribbon or scroll. Liberty cap on pole amid arms panoply. Floral engraved scabbard shows traces of silver wash, the branch of service color for infantry in the period, though militia officers had wide latitude. CONDITION: Very good. Age toning to brass. Good grip. Visible etching on thin frosting with some gray spots on blade. Two upper, one middle ring in place on scabbard. Corner missing to inserted throat. Minor age gap upper edge grip to backstrap reverse. (C) 1840 light artillery and scabbard. Standard configuration. Ames 1864 dated and inspected. CONDITON: Very good. Blade is bright with cross polishing. Three or four small gray spots obverse, larger 1-inch gray spot reverse 14 inches from tip with some brown freckling. Hilt with age patina and dark spots. Wire present. Grip shows wear spots. Scabbard cleaned to dull gray. Number "46" at upper scabbard reverse and on throat. Pad in place. Slight rubbing to Ames mark, but visible. (D) Starr 1812/1813 Pattern. Standard configuration. Peterson-29. Sharp "P / LS / N. Starr / US" obverse blade stamps. CONDITION: Very good. Smooth steel gray blade with good edge and point, and crisp marks. Guard brown with slight crustiness. Leather present, about 90 percent, some wear, small portion missing near bird's head pommel. Scabbard good. Dark with some surface light brown and traces of old cleaning showing gray near the ring bands.
Blade Length
(A) 19"; (B) 31"; (C) 32"; (D) 33"
Overall Length
(A) 25-1/4"; (B) 36-3/4"; (C) 37-1/2"; (D) 38"