December 10, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2019
Dating about 1785 to 1800. Cast brass hilt with lionhead pommel and spiral grooved grip. Knuckleguard divides along the bottom, joins with crossbar forming rounded ends to the first openings, then continues separately with crossbar join again at mid-blade, reuniting above at terminus of curved counterguard, the whole imitating in form the earlier slotted guards. The blade is curved with single edge, narrow fuller along back edge. sabers of this form are often termed "American Light Horse" sabers because some turn up with that motto on the blade. They are imports, often marked by Wilhelm Tesche Peters and associated with the Philadelphia area. This one is unmarked with exception of three six-pointed stars struck on the obverse blade flat seven inches from the guard, and traces of another three with part of a crescent moon on reverse in the same position. CONDITION: Very good. Medium patina to hilt with small dings, darker color in recesses, good detail to lion. No cracks or breaks to guard. Blade smooth, steel grey with dark grey spots and some brown near hilt with some fine pitting there and occasional freckling elsewhere. Blade shows an old cleaning, with softening of marks on reverse indicating there may have been cabalistic symbols, and some uneveness to lower edge with slightly rounded point. A known type of saber imported to America in the early Federal period. See Peterson-18 for an example with a wide-fuller blade and published articles on Philadelphia area brass hilts. SR