December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
This short saber is a French-made light infantry officer’s saber of the Consular and early Empire period (sometimes called the Model 1800 by collectors, which was roughly the date that this pattern hilt first was introduced)—a form that became popular among American naval and military officers as a practical fighting weapon during the War of 1812. Despite the Royal Navy blockade of the American coast, French imports, including fine swords and officer accoutrements, continued to be brought into American ports in the hulls of swift-sailing merchant vessels that had eluded British capture. Similar swords are depicted in the portraits of American naval heroes Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry (victor of the Battle of Lake Erie) and Samuel Chester Reid (captain of the famous American privateer, The General Armstrong), both painted by John Wesley Jarvis in 1815. The 27 - 3/4" gently curving blade with a wide central fuller that runs nearly the full length of the blade; bottom half of the blade about the ricasso decorated with fire bluing and gilt motifs including florals and stands of arms. D guard with langets, checkered grip of ebonized wood, and fluted pommel. Original throat but original scabbard and drag missing, the tooled leather scabbard is period, but clearly added at a later date. CONDITION: Blade very good, polished in the European manner over some scattered darkness. Retains approximately 75% of the fire bluing, with losses to spine and sharp edges; gilding very good, some motifs obscured by patina. Grip with some minor chips. Scabbard leather very good, but with crazing throughout.