November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
Nice example of a War of 1812 period enlisted man's cavalry saber, attributed to a Maryland Militia soldier who acquired an interesting service record throughout the early 19th century. Moses Lugenbeel was born January 16, 1791 in Unionville, Frederick County, Maryland. Pay records indicate he served as Second Lieutenant in Magee’s company of infantry in Ragan’s 1st Regiment of Militia from July 22, 1814 until discharge at Annapolis on January 10, 1815. The regiment saw action as part of Stansbury’s 11th Brigade of Maryland Militia at Bladensburg in August, and at Baltimore and Hempstead Hill in September. Some sources credit him with earlier service as a private in Captain Hollingsworth’s company, of 2nd Maryland Militia Regiment, 1st Cavalry District of New Windsor in June 1812 and as an Ensign on April 27, 1813 in Captain Dutterow’s company of the 20th Regiment. Lugenbeel is listed as discharged at Annapolis on January 10, 1815. He married in 1826, is listed as a merchant in the 1850 census, and died on February 26, 1868 at Unionville. The saber is marked "M" on the spine, denoting a Maryland attribution. There are several examples of swords marked with the Maryland "M" which are part of the Hartzler collection and are featured in several of his books. This saber features an English style curved blade with double fuller, a wide, shallow, center fuller, and a smaller, deeper fuller just beneath the spine, as well as a narrow ricasso. The hilt is of brass, featuring a brass crossguard with open slot design which terminates into a rounded quillon. The stirrup shaped knucklebow connects to the unadorned teardrop shaped pommel with doorknob capstan. A brass backstrap supports the top swelled, grooved wood grip along with a thin brass ferrule. The knucklebow is adorned with a bullion knot, which was enhanced by 2 horse bit boss's that are decorated with federal eagles. CONDITION: The blade exhibits a dark gray patina with areas of pitting and freckling throughout its length. Hilt exhibits a mellow patina with scattered dings and age spots. Grip exhibits several cracks and appears to have been painted silver, as there are traces of silver paint within the grooves. No evidence of twisted wire. The hilt and grip are loose and produce a wobble when handled. Overall fair.
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