December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
The Rose family of Philadelphia's Northern Liberties had a history of supplying edged weapons to the United States dating back to the Revolutionary War. Following the wake of Chesapeake-Leopard Incident of 1807, the Federal government let new contracts for arms to fill its depleted arsenals in anticipation of future wartime needs and contracted with William Rose & Sons for 2,000 cavalry sabers with scabbards at the price of $5 apiece. These iron-mounted sabers had stirrup-shaped hilts with leather grips and were inspired by those carried by British, Prussian and French hussars. The scabbards were made of leather, with iron mountings, consisting of throat, middle band and drag connected by aa rather elaborate "skeleton' framework or edge reinforcements of sheet iron in the fashion of German hussar sabers. They were intended to be slung from waistbelts with suspension slings, to which they were affixed by two iron rings secured to the throat and middle band on each scabbard. In 1808, 592 of these sabers were furnished to the Regiment of Light Dragoons, with the balance largely kept in store until 1812, when issued out to arm volunteer troops raising for active service against the British on the Ohio and New York frontiers. the saber has an overall length of 40 3/8 in., its single-fullered blade is 35 in. L x 1 3/8 in. W; stamped "W. ROSE & SONS" on spine of blade near guard. A very good and complete example retaining 100% of the original leather and twisted wire wrap to the grip, with twisted wire in the grooves and with its original leather scabbard with iron "skeleton" framework mounts. Condition: a nice chocolate tone of patina to the iron mounts of hilt and scabbard, with some light patches of surface oxidation to the hilt; blade very good with unpolished "bright" surface some light scattered freckling with dark spots, markings excellent; some crazing to the surface of the scabbard leather, but otherwise complete and stable. PROVENANCE: ex. collection, George M. Rapport; acquired in 2019.