nick1213 Posted February 10, 2016 Share #1 Posted February 10, 2016 Hello!Just picked up this early American cavalry saber. Examples with similar patriotic motifs and " honour and country" engravings have been identified as French imports Ca. 1810, though I have yet to find one with a similar handle. Any info would be greatly appreciated.Thanks!Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry K. Posted February 10, 2016 Share #2 Posted February 10, 2016 Very Nice Eagle head!! Most likely early 1800's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanemono Posted February 12, 2016 Share #3 Posted February 12, 2016 This could be an early Marine Corps sword. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SARGE Posted February 12, 2016 Share #4 Posted February 12, 2016 An interesting repair to the broken knuckle guard as well. Nice sword BTW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suwanneetrader Posted February 12, 2016 Share #5 Posted February 12, 2016 Nick Welcome to the forum. I know that about a month ago you were trying (on the Sword Forum) to find out if this was a USMC sword and if it had been rehilted with an old blade. Did you "for the most part" confirm Marine useage? Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakethetrees Posted April 18, 2016 Share #6 Posted April 18, 2016 As I recall, there was an article on these sabers in Man At Arms magazine several years ago. Is the hilt cast iron? Some had a ribbed grip, and the blades, while appear to be shortened are regulation. As I recall, they were from a Philadelphia Cavalry Militia, circa 1815. I'll have to dig around and see what I can find. I also believe here were one or two in the Guthman sale some years back. Nice saber. When I locate my info, I'll post it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Rogers Posted April 18, 2016 Share #7 Posted April 18, 2016 These iron-hilted sabers are usually associated with the Philadelphia area as imports from Solingen just after the War of 1812, when we still liked French inspired designs. Mowbray, The American Eagle-Pommel Sword, talks about them on page 168-170. He illustrates one with the same blade, but a slightly different pommel, that has "F.L. No. 5" engraved in the grip, which is thought to represent a militia troop titled the "Federal Lancers." The blade on that one is short, 27 inches, as this one appears to be, which he recognizes as rather short for a cavalry saber, but thinks okay as a lancer's secondary weapon. Though, since they were mostly going to be drawn on parades, it may not have mattered much. There were all-metal eagle hilts cast over here, but they tend to be brass. That is the reason for thinking that this sword was brought over in its present form, rather than just the blade being imported and the mounting of the hilt done here. Mowbray shows one of the brass hilts that he calls the "Widmann-Horstmann" type on page 196. The US Marine Corps used this type for musicians in two lengths, described as for musicians and boy musicians. This does not mean, though, that any sword with an all metal eagle hilt is a marine sword, or even those with such brass hilts are all marine swords. In this case, the best description is probably something like an 1815-1820 militia short saber with a patriotic eagle hilt and blade engraving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted April 18, 2016 Share #8 Posted April 18, 2016 That's a very nice sword. Mind if I ask where you found it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakethetrees Posted April 22, 2016 Share #9 Posted April 22, 2016 Here is a image of one of mine. The blade is identical, with "Honour and my Country", gilded flourishes at the ricasso and a short blade with the fuller running out to the very end. I've never seen a scabbard for this type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KurtA Posted April 22, 2016 Share #10 Posted April 22, 2016 Here's a brass "smooth" handle version I picked up awhile back. Has the Honour And My Country on one side. Has the scabbard but it's missing the last few inches and the drag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakethetrees Posted April 23, 2016 Share #11 Posted April 23, 2016 KurtA, A great looking saber! I have a Widman somewhere that I guess I'll have to find to include in this topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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