December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
Short saber for a foot officer with an overall length of 33 3/8 inches, bearing a slightly-curved, single-edged blade with clipped point and a wide shallow fuller on both sides; 1 1/2 in. W at ricasso. Silver reversed-P hilt with chased eagle head quillon and scalloped guard. Bird's head pommel with chased designs on top and silver backstrap. Ivory grip with relief carved spirals, silver ferrule with bands of decoration at base. Outside face of knucklebow inscribed "Major Wm. Watts". Complete with its original leather scabbard with scalloped-edge, silver mounts that consist of throat, middle-band and chape or drag. Major William Watts (1765-1838) of Bucks County, Pennsylvania carried this handsome saber during the War of 1812 while serving as a field officer of Humphrey's Rifle Regiment. This unit was composed of rifle-armed, volunteer militia companies from Bucks, Northampton and Lancaster counties that was mobilized in August 1814 and responded to the British attack on Baltimore, mustering out of service in early 1815. CONDITION: Blade is bright with two minor nicks to cutting edge; silver mounts bright, with one small pressure crack running 2/3ds the width of the ferrule on left side; ivory grip very good with a pleasing patina and a couple dark hairline age cracks; scabbard mounts bright and leather showing some pasts flaking to surface, minor cracks and crazing, but is overall very stable. A beautiful identified American silver hilt with its original scabbard. PROVENANCE: William Watts to his nephew, Brigadier General William Watts Hart Davis and remaining in family until sold to Medicus. The saber is illustrated and described on plate 129 in Flayderman and Mowbray (1999); Flayderman to Dr. William Dupree of Lewisburg, PA, in whose collection it remained until 2022.