US Eagle Head Mounted Artillery Officer’s Sabre, ca. 1805

$1,495.00

Out of stock

SKU: SS1274 Category:

Description

Featuring the so-called “Bolton-Upson” eagle head pommel, this sword was likely made
by Birmingham cutler Richard D. Bolton and imported by Richards, Upson & Co. of New
York. The American sword industry was still in its infancy during the early 19th C and so
most swords were imports; often from the country which it had recently fought to gain its
independence and would soon be at war with again in 1812. This sword features a gilt
brass hilt with openwork guard with scalloped edges and integral knucklebow connecting
to the eagle head pommel just below the beak. Reeded bone grip with small crack at its
base and a repaired chip approx. 1/2″ by 3/8″ immediately below the pommel; ferrules
top and bottom. Deeply curved unmarked broad 28 ½” blade with wide single full-length
fuller. Original black leather scabbard with gilt brass mounts (some damage to leather
between the throat and middle band. Hilt retains approximately 80-90% of its original
gilding. Blade showing scattered light salt and pepper pitting, signs of lamination, and
several shallow edge nicks. A very similar sword is illustrated in “The American Eagle-
Pommel Sword” by Andrew Mowbray, Fig. 11B. These early eagle head sabres rarely
survive with their original leather scabbards.