May 8-10, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/9/2024
For another example, see page 187 of Don Troiani's "Campaign to Saratoga - 1777". These partisans have an interesting history associated with them. There are only about a dozen known and they were used by captains of the Brunswick Regiment of German soldiers that fought in America during the Revolutionary War. These troops fought at the battles of Bennington and Saratoga. One such partisan was captured at Saratoga and taken as a trophy by John Stark of the 1st New Hampshire Regiment. He presented it to the State of Massachusetts, where it is still on display in their museum, along with other captured objects given to the state by Stark. The partisan itself measures 88" overall with the head measuring 13 - 1/2" from the tip to the end of the turnings. The iron straps measure 18 - 1/2". There is a cone-shaped 3 - 1/4" original spike at the base of the haft. The shaped blade section is engraved with the Hanoverian crown over mirrored slightly overlapped C's. Below is a banner inscribed "NUNQUAM RETRORSUM", meaning "Never Backward" in Latin. This was the motto in particular of the Order of St. George in the Kingdom of Hanover. The opposite side is engraved with the same crown over a large rampant horse with the same motto in the same banner below. Below the blade is a faceted S-shaped guard. The haft is original and has a dark finish with 4 holes drilled in it for hanging. CONDITION: Very good, iron components polished bright and engraving is crisp. Haft retains a very dark patina. An important and rare Revolutionary War partisan.
CORRECTION: This is Brunswick, not Hanoverian, although the design uses the same horse Hanoverian Horse and motto, but Hanoverian items do not have the crossed C’s. Title amended.