The blade on this sword is in spectacular condition. It is bright and clean with frosty etching and at some point was nickel plated. The true edge is free of nicks. The blade meas. approx. 29.00 inches long with a stopped fuller that meas. approx. 23.50 inches and a narrow one that meas. approx. 14.50 inches. The obverse etching begins just above the ricasso with “WM. HORSTMAN / & SONS / PHILADELPHIA” surrounded by a border of parallel lines. The blade decoration begins just above this mark with a panoply of flags with a drum, a shield, swords and a cannon. This is followed by foliate with intertwined patriotic shield superimposed over a torch crossed with an axe as well as arrows and a bugle. Above this is a spread-winged eagle followed by a riband that reads “E PLURIBUS UNUM” followed by more foliate. The reverse side has the Solingen kings head mark with a three leafed fern with parallel linear designs on the ricasso. This followed by a panoply of flags with a shield, crossbow, drum and sword topped with foliate. Next is a block “US” with crossed flags, spear, cannon and shield followed by more foliate. Blade spine etched with “IRON PROOF.” Thin leather washer is present at base of ricasso.

Brass hilt is deeply cast with a detailed, single paneled guard and knucklebow. Panels delicately cast and display oak leaf scrolls and acanthus leaves. Hilt face has been lightly cleaned as has the knucklebow and pommel. Grips are gray sharkskin covered with twisted wire wrap flanked on top and bottom by plain wire. All is original, tight and in good condition. Brass pommel is decorated with ornate scrollwork of laurel leaves. Hilt has an engraved brass quillon with a high class delicate scroll engraving on top of guard in an area that is normally blank.

The scabbard is covered in sharkskin that is in good solid condition and shows only light wear. Both mounts and drag are present and of plain brass. Both rings are also present. Throat has fine engraving that reads “PRESENTED / TO / DAVID WHIPPLE / 2^ND LT. USMC / AS A TOKEN OF FRIENDSHIP / BY LEWIS E. BIXLER / MASTER US NAVY.” There is a dark spot of discoloration on the inscription that appears to be a heavily rubbed area where gilt has worn off by cleaning.

The presenter of the sword, Lewis E. Bixler was born in Pennsylvania. He entered the Naval Academy on September 27, 1865 and graduated in 1869. Upon graduation he was promoted to Ensign. He was aboard the USS Sabine from 1869-1870 and received torpedo instruction from 1870-1871. He was promoted to Master in 1872 and was assigned to the USS Canandaigua on the North Atlantic Station from 1872-1874. He was commissioned a Lieutenant in 1874 and assigned to the USS Yantic, Asiatic Station from 1875 to 1878. Bixler next reported to the Hydrographic Office where he stayed till 1879 when he was assigned to the USS Kearsage. After leaving the Kearsarge in 1882 he went back to the Hydrographic Office until 1885 when he went aboard the USS Pensacola. He resigned from the Navy on June 25, 1886.

The recipient of the sword, David Whipple was born in New Hampshire in 1849. He was the son of Major General Amiel Weeks Whipple who was an 1841 West Point graduate. The elder Whipple was a famous pre-war topographical engineer known for surveying a route for the railroad from the Mississippi to the Pacific. He was killed in action at Chancellorsville.

David Whipple attended the Naval Academy after being appointed by President Andrew Johnson in 1868 and graduated in 1871. He was first assigned to the Marine Barracks in Washington, D. C. and remained there until June of 1872 when he was sent to the barracks at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In June of 1873 2^nd Lieutenant Whipple was assigned to the USS Canandaigua on which he cruised the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico. It was at this time that Whipple and Bixler must have met and formed the friendship that resulted in the presentation of the sword offered here. In August of 1874 Whipple was again sent to the barracks in Portsmouth. In September of 1875 Lt. Whipple was once more aboard ship. This time he was onboard the USS Sabine which was being used as a receiving ship in Portsmouth. Whipple returned to the Marine Barracks at Portsmouth in January of 1877 and served there until the following September. He then boarded the USS Enterprise with whom he sailed to the mouth of the Mississippi for surveying operations. He left the ship in May of 1878 and returned to shore duty at Portsmouth. In July of 1879 Whipple was promoted to 1^st Lieutenant and went aboard the flagship USS Powhatan stationed in Baltimore. He was part of that ship’s company until December of 1879 when he was transferred to the USS Tennessee which was the flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron. Service on the Tennessee continued until January of 1882. Some of the ports visited during this time were Norfolk, Boston, Brooklyn Navy Yard, the West Indies, Jamaica, New Orleans, Hampton Roads, New York City, New London and Portsmouth where Whipple returned to the Marine Barracks there. Six months later in June of 1882 he was sent to the Marine Barracks in Annapolis, Maryland where he served until June of 1883 when he was sent to the Marine Barracks in Pensacola, Florida. He died of consumption in Norfolk, Virginia on March 1, 1884 and is buried in Proprietors Burying Ground in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

This a true museum quality sword that saw post-war use.  [ad]

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