This eagle-pommel short saber is complete with scabbard and has very nice blue and gilt color remaining on the blade. The brass hilt has a Ketland style eagle head with flat, wedge-shaped crest, round, reeded bone grip, and simple reverse-P knucklebow, with a side ring on the guard, and downturned disk quillon. The hilt preserves significant traces of its original silver wash, which is very strong on the scabbard mounts. Metal colors for militia units might vary, but in the U.S. service silver was for mounted units and infantry, with the sword length here suggesting it is for company or platoon infantry officer. The blade has “20” stamped on the back edge near the guard. “Warranted” is dry-needle etched in the gilt floral motif on the blade obverse at bottom, a common marking blades and swords imported here from Britain before the War of 1812.

The blue extends about half-way down the blade on either side, terminating in curling, flamboyant leaves. Each side has three gilt dry-point etched motifs with lots of gilt remaining and quite striking against the blue. The motifs are mostly floral, but the obverse center one includes a bow, quiver, and a Liberty Cap on pole at center. The blue has a nice luminous quality on both sides, though with some gray and brown spotting. The upper portion of the blade shows as a muted silver with some bright metal and some gray spotting overall, but with good edge and point. The black leather scabbard is very good, with no holes, bends, or breaks, a tight seam, and black finish showing crackling overall, but only small areas of finish loss. The scabbard mounts have incised border lines and show strong remnant of silvering over the brass, perhaps 30 percent or better, with some spotting. The hilt naturally shows less from handling, perhaps 10 percent on the pommel, guard and ferrule.

This a very nice War of 1812 era American officer’s sword dating about 1805-1810.  [sr] [ph:m]

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