November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
Very nice example of a silver hilted eagle pommel sword with attribution to an officer who served in the Maryland Militia during the war of 1812. According to page 322 of "American Silver-Hilted, Revolutionary and Early Federal Swords, Volume I", by Daniel Hartzler, this sword was carried by Lt. Ephraim Cook. Ephraim Cook appears as a Lieutenant in Capt. Gorsuch’s Company of the 15th Maryland Militia in October 1812, and is also listed as a First Lieutenant in Beale Randall’s Battalion of Riflemen, of which Gorsuch’s company was also a part. Additional listings have him with service as First Lieutenant in Schucht’s 2nd Regiment of Maryland Militia, which likely refers to continued service in the same company as part of another organization. He died in 1891. The sword features a distinct Chesapeake Bay eagle hilt with small beaked eagle head. The mouth is prominent and bowed, with forehead band that is concave and convex, and distinct long crest. The eyes are football shaped which is typical of Maryland eagle hilts. Feathers are individual and lightly detailed with rachis and the crest features long flowing plumage. Single silver band ferrule at the base of the ribbed ivory grip. There is evidence that the grip once accommodated twisted wire decoration. The D-shaped knucklebow connects to the 4-slot guard. The blade is in the English style with 2 fullers. The sword is complete with its black tooled leather scabbard with 2 scalloped, silver mounts. CONDITION: The blade retains a dark gray patina with scattered areas of spotting light nicks to cutting edge. Guard is loose and produces a wobble when handled. Grip shows hairline age cracks. Scabbard is separated in 2 pieces. The scabbard has scattered crazing and losses to surface.
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