Bonhams 1793 : A rare militia infantry officer's sword retailed by Horstmann & Sons, Philadelphia

Narrow, straight 28 1/2 inch blade with 12 inch blued and gilt panel engraved with conventional florals and panoplies and marked at the base W.H.H. Ricasso with crowned head mark of Weyersberg. Silver-plated brass stirrup hilt comprising downturned quillon, the finial molded with scrolls, rim of guard with a design of a wavy band and small lozenges, knucklebow molded with palmettes and foliage, faceted urn-shaped pommel. Reeded bone grip. Silver-plated brass two-ring scabbard with frog stud and engraved with small panels of leafage, reverse with scrolled copper label Horstmann/& Sons/Makers/Philada.
Condition: Fine blade retaining most blued and gilt finish showing some fading/wear above the hilt. Hilt retains nearly all silvered finish with some wear to pommel. Grip with one minor age crack. Scabbard retains perhaps 15% of silver-plated finish.
See Illustration

Sold for US$ 936 inc. premium

Footnotes

Note: For an example of this exact pattern see Fig. 107, The American Sword, 1775-1945, Harold L. Peterson from the Harry D. Berry, Jr. Collection. The sword shown there is identified as an artillery officer's sword as it had traces of gilt finish but in all other respects is exactly the same as the present example. Mr. Peterson notes that the marking Horstmann & Sons Makers dates the sword as post-1843.

Category: Arms and Armour

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