Brig Posted September 3, 2015 Share #1 Posted September 3, 2015 Can anyone identify this sword? Is it even US? Era? I am inquiring for an acquaintance. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted September 3, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted September 3, 2015 a few more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suwanneetrader Posted September 3, 2015 Share #3 Posted September 3, 2015 I believe this is a US Officer's sword approx 1820-1850. Most likely near the later part of the period. As I have not dealt in swords for over 20 years I do not know the value but I'm sure someone on here will be more helpful than me. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted September 3, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted September 3, 2015 thanks! Appears to be a regulation 1821 sword...that really helped me narrow it down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horseclover Posted September 3, 2015 Share #5 Posted September 3, 2015 There are elements of both the earlier and later examples of this sword. Can you post some pictures of shots done outside or better lighting? Look closely at the base of the blade on both sides for either a crowned king, SHF or AW Spies. You may also find the words Solingen and Warranted. Honestly, the details of the hilt are hidden by darkness but it looks like an earlier example to me. The scabbard wall thickness another factor in dating. If it is easily dented an flimsy feeling, it will be a later sword but what I see so far also looks to be the earlier type. It is important to show all of the hilt and pommel details, especially the grip dividers. A good number of times, they will be attributed to Fredrick Widmann or Horstmann but if it is a late Horstmann, it will be marked to them. These had good use by the US Navy until the regulation eagle pommel pattern of the 1830s. These smaller birds were then still popular through the 1850s and then reborn in a very cheap manner and produced into the 20th century. Let me see if I can pull up a good late 19th early 20th century example and you will see the similarities to the 1850s birds. The 1830s and on birds will often have the repeated triangular neck collar decoration that kind of emulates Widmann's (or vice versa) "tombstones" The earlier examples will have feathering all the way down the neck. Widmann had two or three very distinctive ferrules. The oak leaf ferrules are not necessarily a note for dating, as I have seen it on 16th century swords but quite common on Solingen production eagle pommel swords. They must have rolled out miles of it, as it is found on other 19th century epee as well. A work in progress is an upload of my eagle files sometime ago. https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9AOFMA8y3ODNllwS21ja1FuVmM&usp=sharing Cheers GC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted September 3, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted September 3, 2015 Thanks for the great info. Unfortunately, these are the best photos I have as this is not mine, though I am waiting on some shots of the markings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted September 4, 2015 Share #7 Posted September 4, 2015 Certainly appears to have a Federal shield on the guard. Horseclover is always on the mark with these eagle pommels. That sword has a beautiful grip - looks like ivory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horseclover Posted September 4, 2015 Share #8 Posted September 4, 2015 It is bone, the wear side shows more furring. It is not uncommon to see the wear side less finished. Another reason I was pressing for more detail. Even the wear side of the knuckle bow is sometimes flat with no detail. Again, all these details add up to dating and makeup/maker. The scabbards are often plain on the wear side as well. I have zoomed the pictures a good bit but have not fiddled with making these easier to see. Maybe I'll fiddle with them in time but I can more or less guess the rest. These are not particularly sought for and it has some issues. It's a great sword for a beginner collector but not very pricy, even if it is an earlier Simon Helvig. (SHF). It might do well at auction, as the scabbard is as valuable as the sword. Cheers GC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted September 4, 2015 Author Share #9 Posted September 4, 2015 It is bone, the wear side shows more furring. It is not uncommon to see the wear side less finished. Another reason I was pressing for more detail. Even the wear side of the knuckle bow is sometimes flat with no detail. Again, all these details add up to dating and makeup/maker. The scabbards are often plain on the wear side as well. I have zoomed the pictures a good bit but have not fiddled with making these easier to see. Maybe I'll fiddle with them in time but I can more or less guess the rest. These are not particularly sought for and it has some issues. It's a great sword for a beginner collector but not very pricy, even if it is an earlier Simon Helvig. (SHF). It might do well at auction, as the scabbard is as valuable as the sword. Cheers GC Indeed does seem to be the case with the scabbard, no detail on the wear side... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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