This quill backed blade was made by the firm of Gebruder Weyersberg of Solingen, Prussia as evidenced by the king’s head mark stamped on the reverse ricasso. It was imported by Horstmann who then etched the blade and added the Model 1860 pattern hilt. Though the blade is not marked by Horstmann, the etching is a known Horstmann pattern.

Despite having a Model 1860 hilt, the blade conforms to the pattern of the 1833 Dragoon saber. It meas. approx. 32.50 inches long with a quill back and a true edge that has numerous small nicks all along its length. The surface of the blade is very clean and free of pitting and mottling. There is some dirt around the base of the ricasso just above the blue cloth washer. This dirt looks to be the residue of oils used over the years to preserve the blades surface.

The etching on the blade is truly wonderful in appearance and detail. The obverse etching begins at the ricasso with a fern inside of an arc followed by a branch of oak leaves with acorns. Each leaf within the branch shows its interior details while the head of each acorn is crosshatched. Above this is a pair of drums with a horn atop some oak leaves. These support a patriotic “US” shield within a laurel wreath. Emanating from the shield are a pair of halberds with flags and a pole with Liberty Cap at center. Again, the fine detailing of the leaves and the laurel along with the details of the ropes on the drum show the quality of the work. Next is a spread-winged eagle within a sunburst holding in his beak a riband that clearly reads “E PLURIBUS UNUM” which is topped by a Sibley type tent with a flag at its apex. The etching ends with a fine branch of laurel.

The etching on the reverse side of the blade begins the same as the obverse, with a fern in an arc just above the ricasso followed by the oak branch and acorns showing all the same exquisite detail. This is followed by “UNITED STATES CORPS OF TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS” done in two lines of script within a laurel wreath and sunburst. Above this is a figure of the Shawnee Chief, Tecumseh with an upraised tomahawk. The Chief is depicted wearing a loin cloth with a knife tucked in his belt wearing a quiver of arrows on his back. The work is so fine that even the quills of the arrows show feathering. Above the Chief is a spread-winged eagle with an “E PLURIBUS UNUM” riband within a sunburst followed by a finely detailed long branch of oak leaves and acorns.

The brass hilt has a plain, unadorned, Phrygian helmet pattern pommel cap above a ribbed grip wrapped in sharkskin with doubled rows of twisted brass wire. The wire is complete throughout its course and the sharkskin shows light wear to the high areas. The patina of the wire and the sharkskin match so perfectly that one needs to look closely to see the wire down in the recesses of the grip. The hilt also has the two branch guard with no embellishments on the quillon.

The scabbard is free of dents. It was finished bright but has a dark patina over most of its surface along with heavy oxidation. The mounts are narrow and unadorned and the drag is rather plain. The throat has a key shaped inlet to conform to the quill backed blade. [ad] [ph:L]

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