Horsehead pommel swords are scarce. Predators like lions and eagles made an easy jump to military swords from hunting swords, but horses, partners in the hunt, are far less common, though particularly appropriate for mounted officers. This is a very good condition horsehead pommel officer’s saber dating around 1805 to 1810, with curved single edged etched blade bearing a “warranted” guarantee in an arc indicating British manufacture, but also shows a U.S. eagle, full-standing figure of Columbia or Liberty, and an Indian with feathered headdress etched on the blade, clearly indicating it was made for the American market.

The pommel is beautifully cast and chased with a detailed rendering of the horse’s head with bridle and bit, and a mane extending all the way down the back strap. The knucklebow is P-guard, flat with rounded inside surface, and detailed leaf-shaped langets with a central acorn at bottom. The brass is generally bright and shows strong remnants of gilt finish in the recessed and lower portions of the casting, with some rubbing on high points. The grip is white bone, with a brass ferrule at its base and is carved to represent diagonally channeled side panels. The grip is stable but the obverse has a narrow missing piece along the back strap. On the reverse, there is a small chip out at the top underside, just under the pommel, and a couple of hairlines running lengthwise, but no gaps.

The blade is a horseman’s blade with a single broad fuller. It is profusely etched and shows some gold wash at the base behind the langets and may have been tri-color, but the metal is smooth and the motifs are very visible. On the obverse a short floral panel at bottom includes “Warranted” in a scrolling banner. Above that, floral panels are interrupted by cartouches with rounded ends, one with a full-length portrait of an Indian with tall feathered headdress and another bearing a cursory rendering of a panoply of arms and flags. The reverse shows a similar arrangement of panels and cartouches showing a fuller panoply of arms at top, a U.S. eagle with E Pluribus Unum banner scroll overhead, and near the base a full-length standing woman in classical garb holding a pole with liberty cap at top symbolizing Columbia or the goddess Liberty. The blade shows overall as a muted silver gray with some dark gray areas above the etched panels. The point is good. The edge shows three small nicks.

The scabbard is black leather, full-length, with no bends or breaks, good surface, and a good seam. The brass mounts with carrying rings are in place, secure, and have matching open-work on the ends. The mounts show some gilt but more of the deep brass patina from handling.

This is a very impressive saber dating to the War of 1812 with visible etching that includes obviously American motifs and has a very hard to find pommel form. It would display wonderfully with a pair of saddle holsters and high-end flintlock pistols.    [sr]

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