This massive, very early US Officer Saber was imported from Germany for the American Market in the late 18th century. An almost identical example can be found in the former Guthman collection and is pictured as Plate 24 in “U.S. Army Weapons-1784-1791” by William H. Guthman. Some of these swords were imported for enlisted cavalry but some, such as this one, were imported for officers.

The officer version has silver ribbon on the grip and a close-plated iron hilt covered with sheet silver soldered to the iron. This saber is the officer version. The iron hilt, which has been covered with silver, is the hussar pattern, and generous portions of the original silver covering remain. It has leather grips wrapped with strands of flat silver ribbon in the grooves (4 of the original 6 silver ribbon strands remain). The hilt has an iron ferrule, backstrap, and flat pommel with ball capstan. The ferrule and pommel are decorated with channels. All metal parts of the hilt were close-plated with thick silver.

The massive blade retains its original leather washer and has a broad central fuller and a small fuller near the flat of the blade. The blade comes to a point with a false edge. The top third of both the obverse and reverse side of the blade were originally etched with floral sprays and an early federal eagle with ribbon in its beak and 10 stars all surrounded by an oval wreath. Only remnants of the etching remains. The blade has been re-worked along its edge with nicks removed. The overall length is 41 3/8”. The blade is 36” long by 1 ½” wide at the ricasso.

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