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92

Presentation Sword of Captain Samuel Walker from the Citizens of New Orleans

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:35,000.00 USD Estimated At:75,000.00 - 150,000.00 USD
Presentation Sword of Captain Samuel Walker from the Citizens of New Orleans
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33.5" single-edged blade with 27.5" fuller, 1.25" wide at forte. French An XI configuration with brass three-branch guard with langlets and single recurved quillon. Wire-wrapped leather grip supported with cord. Blade shows continental-style gilt engravings including laurel wreathes and panoplies of arms. Obverse ricasso shows "S&K" mark of the retail firm of Schnitzler & Kirschbaum. Spine marked in stamped seriffed letters "HYDE & GOODRICH N. ORLEANS". Correct scabbard with brass hangers. Backstrap of guard engraved in fine script and "Old English" font "Presented by the Citizens of New Orleans to/Cpt. Samuel H. Walker/of the Texas Rangers for Valor & Gallantry/displayed at Palo Alto & Resaca Del La Palma/May 14, 1846." A May 16, 1846 article in the New Orleans Picayune Newspaper states the sword was purchased via a subscription at Bravo's Exchange in honor of Walker's actions at the aforementioned battles; Palo Alto being the first major Battle of the Mexican-American War, and Resaca De La Palma, a battle that took place the next day. A later article in the Lagrange Intelligencer, dated May 30, reports the same. Samuel Hamilton Walker, a native of Maryland, began his military career  with the Washington City Volunteers in the Creek Campaign of 1836. Enjoying the life of adventure in the field offered by the military, he was employed as a scout in Florida until 1841, when he traveled to Texas. While in Texas, he participated in the Texan Revolution and was a survivor of the infamous "Black Bean Episode", where seventeen captured Texan Soldiers were executed after drawing a black bean from a jar. After escaping from Mexican captivity, Walker returned to Texas and joined with the Texas Rangers under John Coffee Hays. Walker may be best remembered for his contribution to the revolver that bears his name. Desiring a more powerful weapon than the single-shot 1842 percussion pistols then in use by the Army, Walker collaborated with gunmaker Samuel Colt, who had recently lost his business, despite the numbers of Patterson revolvers ordered by the new Republic of Texas. The resulting design was a massive .44 caliber revolver, of which just over 1,000 were made. The order provided Colt with enough funds to restart his business and take his place in history alongside Captain Walker.   At the time of the presentation, Walker was still in the field commanding a company of Texas Rangers. The sword was placed in the care of Louisiana Militia General Persifor Frazer Smith, who had only days before accepted a commission as a Colonel in the US Army Regulars and was soon to depart for General Taylor's army. **Excellent to fine condition overall. Blade is bright with some scattered oxidation and old patches of pitting from age.  Minor imperfections to cutting edge. Some dulling of brass with grip showing some very minor loss of leather. Pommel with some dents and damage, appearing that it was used as a hammer or mallet.  Some minor flaking of finish on scabbard. A fine and important piece of Texas history presented to the father of the "Walker" revolver.** $75,000-$150,000 Provenance Captain Samuel Walker Dr. Roy Horton Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, 2009-2011
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