STARR 1818 CONTRACT SABER DATED 1821 ON THE KNUCKLEBOW

$995.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: 998-123

This is a very good example of an early U.S. government contract saber for cavalry. Perhaps the best known of the early U.S. arms contractors, Nathan Starr obtained a government contract in 1818 for 10,000 cavalry sabers, which he delivered between 1820 and 1822. The two US dragoon regiments were abolished in 1821, but these sabers also went to arm state mounted units under the terms of the 1808 Militia Act and saw use on the frontier, and some are said to have been issued again in 1833 to the new US dragoons until the 1833 pattern sabers could be obtained. Some hard-pressed militia units at the advent of the Civil War also seem to have received them from state arsenals, particularly in the south.

The sabers are iron mounted with leather-wrapped wood grips, a 32-inch clip point blade, and an iron scabbard.  Overall length is approx. 36.5”. The blade on this one is exceptional, in the bright, with just a very few small brown spots near the hilt and an excellent edge and point. Clearly struck on the obverse ricasso are the government acceptance and proof marks of US inspector Luther Sage along with Starr’s maker’s stamp: “US / P / LS / N. STARR.” A slight bit of chatter when it was struck seems to have impressed part of a second “t,” and the lower part of the “U” and the last letter of Starr’s name is a bit light, but the markings are deep and crisp.

The scabbard shows some crustiness to the original black japanning with some rust spots coming up from underneath, but shows just some to gray where the carrying rings have rubbed on their base plates.

The iron reverse-P guard is slotted for a sword knot and stamped with the date 1821 on the exterior near the angle. The metal is generally smooth with a mix of gray and brown, with some bright showing also. The 1821 date stamp is crisp. The leather washer is in place on the underside of the guard.  [sr]

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