3096

SOUTH CAROLINA MILITIA OFFICER'S SWORD OF THE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
SOUTH CAROLINA MILITIA OFFICER'S SWORD OF THE

1840S WITH PALMETTO TREE GUARD. Overall length: 37 3/4". Blade length: 31 1/4". A single fullered blade with gold highlighted etching on a blued field over the first 13" of the blade. Etching includes military, patriotic and foliate motifs. The ricasso is stamped with a king's head indicating that the blade was produced by Gebruder Weyersberg of Germany. Gilded brass hilt with a turned down guard that features a palmetto tree with "1776" below attesting to use by the South Carolina Militia. The crossguard terminates in a downturned eagle head. The knucklebow is decorated throughout with foliate motifs. The pommel is in the form of the bust of a warrior wearing scale armor and a Phrygian cap. In the United States, as well as other countries, Phrygian cap is often termed a Liberty cap, a popular theme in early patriotic depictions. 2 Piece mother of pearl paneled grips. Gilded brass scabbard with geometric and foliate engraving throughout. There is a stamp at the top of the rear of the scabbard that reads, "HORSTMANN" and there is also the number stamp "425" which was the pattern number for Horstmann of this style South Carolina sword. CONDITION: blade has been cleaned to a light gray finish with scattered remnants of lightly pitted areas. The blade still retains about 95% of gilt highlights and 80% of the blued field. The hilt retains much of the original gilded finish and the mother of pearl grips are undamaged. The gilded finish of the scabbard is nearly completely intact. The etching on the front remains crisp and clear and the scabbard is surprisingly free of dents. (02-17787/BF). $3,000-4,000.