US Eagle Head Mounted Officer’s Sword, ca. 1810

Description

Brass hilt, featuring langets with eagle and Federal shield in low relief, reverse scroll quillon,
ornate knuckle guard joining the throat of the open-beak eagle head pommel with integral
backstrap. Horizontally ribbed bone grip (tight longitudinal crack) with twisted brass wire
wrap. Curved single-edged 29″ blade with broad single fuller; the upper half blued, with
gold-filled engravings of foliage and stands of arms. Associated silver-plated brass
scabbard with two carry rings. Hilt very good, with traces of original silver wash. Blade
smooth with some bluing loss and spotting; the gold filling mostly intact. Scabbard retains
about half of its original silver plating, with several large dents, one of which is partially
broken through. Though not original to this sword, the blade fits entirely within the
scabbard, without being loose. Overall length 34 1/4″, not including scabbard. Though
apparently unmarked, this fine quality example is probably a British import.