AMERICAN MEXICAN WAR CIVIL WAR NAVAL OFFICER EAGLE HEAD HORSTMANN SWORD CA 1845

Description

AMERICAN MEXICAN WAR CIVIL WAR NAVAL OFFICER EAGLE HEAD PRESENTATION GRADE HORSTMANN SWORD CA 1845, this is an extremely rare sword only about 25 examples are in
existence
. Originally the sword had a reverse guard which is missing. Many were removed by officers. scabbard is a little tight due to shrinkage.
A very fine example of Peterson's 139, a handsome non-regulation pipe-backed blade officer's saber, made by Horstmann of Philadephia. The guard features a beautifully sculpted eagle whose feathers extend the length of the backstrap. The semi-basket guard has gothic” arches,, with a spread winged eagle perched atop a fouled anchor flanked by laurel leaves. There was a folding reverse guard, but that is missing. The rayskin grip is of very large pebbled skin, with a fine triple wire wrapping. The scabbard is rayskin with handsome engraved brass mounts at the throat and the drag, the throat being engraved with a circle of 13 stars, and the throat is engraved with oak leaves and acorns. There was a frog button, but that is missing. The curved pipe backed blade has a well-developed double edged point that is broader then the rest of the blade. The center of the blade has United States Navy etched in cursive script under a fine American eagle with a ribbon in its beak engraved LIBERTY.” There is also a stand of American flags with a Liberty Cap atop the central pole. The reverse of the blade has a fouled anchor and another American eagle with the ribbon with LIBERTY on it, as well as floral swags and a trophy of arms.