American Eagle Head Mounted Artillery Officer’s Saber, ca. 1810

Description

The hilt of high copper content brass, comprising reverse scroll quillon, P-shaped knuckle
guard depicting a row of rounded discs with alternating stars, connecting to the throat of the
open-beaked “floating” eagle head pommel. Ribbed bone grip with brass base ferrule.
Broad, unmarked 27 3/4″ curved single-edged blade with three-quarter length single fuller;
etched with gold-filled scrolling foliage, crossed cannons, drums, and stands of arms. No
scabbard. Hilt very good with dark bronze patina; the bone grip with deep age patina.
Blade with several shallow edge nicks and age staining, retaining about 30% of the gold
filling, primarily at the forte. Overall length 33″. No scabbard. While unmarked, this sword
is almost certainly a product of one of the Birmingham, England sword cutlers, probably
either Richard Bolton or Thomas Ketland.