The gilded brass hilt of this sword features a bust of Columbia with a liberty cap that combines the personification of America somewhat with the bust of a classical warrior since she also wears a scale-armor corselet. The grip is two-piece, mother of pearl, mostly white, with top and bottom gilt brass straps. There is no indication of a wire binding. The foliate scroll at the upper end of the curved knuckleguard rests against Columbia’s shoulder at the top. The knuckleguard is cast and chased on either side with a central rosette at its midpoint, the remaining space above and below being completely filled with geometric and floral scrolls. The guard is one-piece with the quillon block, and the quillon extends on the upper side to form a down-turned eagle head with a long neck covered with floral elements.

The down-turned counterguard is decorated around the edge with paired C-scrolls forming a “W” at each side and two at the lower edge, those at the sides being articulated and appearing shell like, the lower ones more geometric. The central panel shows an American eagle in relief, clutching arrows and olive branch with a US shield on its breast. The background features punch dots that give the appearance of a starry background. The hilt retains some gilt in the recessed portions of the pommel and guard, with rubbing to the high points, but lots of gilt on the reverse of the guard, hidden portions of the quillon and in the lower sections of the counterguard, producing a framing effect for the eagle on the latter.

The blade is straight, single-edged with a single wide fuller extending a bit more than half the blade length and a false edge extending back from the point. The reverse ricasso shows the king’s head stamp of the Gebruder Weyersberg, who worked in Solingen and were major suppliers to U.S. dealers, Horstmann in particular. The blade is blue and gilt, each side has a blued panel ending with scrolling tendrils and three sections of dry needle-point etched motifs that are highlighted in gilt. The obverse has lower and upper floral sections with a middle section of vine entwined crossed flags and arms. The reverse shows the same gilt highlighted motifs on a blued panel with scrolling tendril ends. The metal surface, edge, and point are good. The blue is thinning slightly, showing a bit stronger on the obverse, with some rubbing at the midpoint. The upper blade shows a dull silver in tone, shading slightly toward gray, but with good edge and point.

The gilt brass scabbard has two carrying rings and a shield-shaped frog stud cast and chased with a floral spray. There are some traces of gilt, but mostly a nice even, aged patina. The throat is in place. The upper reverse bears a Horstmann stamp and three-digit impressed number that is likely an style number. The reverse of the body is plain. The obverse shows a dot and semicircle border wave border with bands at the rings and floral elements extending up and down, and a long spray of acanthus leaves extending up from the drag. There is an old repair to the scabbard between the lower mount and drag using a soldered piece of brass to make good a bend or break.

The Medicus Collection contained two similar swords. Plate 60d shows a similar knucklebow and counterguard. Plate 59e is even closer. It has the same pommel as well. Interestingly, Flayderman says that version had been silvered and bore a London retailer’s etched address, though king’s head blade mark as well. Flayderman dates both swords 1820-1840, which puts them in the heyday of the American militia or the “elegant elite.” Their uniforms, equipment, and arms are a great collecting category that combines visual appeal and history. In this case, the use of Columbia as a pommel figure is considerably scarcer than conventional knight’s heads and helmets, and seems scarcer than the Indian Princess form as well, both of which were targeted at the especially-patriotic American market.  [sr]

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