The Indian Princess pommel was a popular American form that lasted from about 1835 into the 1870s, at least in the catalogs of Ames and Horstmann. From the blade etching on the obverse ricasso, “N.P. Ames / Cutler / Springfield,” this one dates no later than 1847. The pommel form is likely an adaption of the Indian princess as a symbol of America and the New World, though its appearance at this point in time is linked by some to the Seminole Indian Wars, the second of which began in 1835. This is an excellent example of the type, coming from the collection of Dick Johnson, with a provenance back through Robert McAuley (and pictured in a presentation by him in an issue of the Bulletin of the American Society of Arms Collectors,) to Norm Flayderman, and to the Walton estate.

The brass hilt shows lots of gilt. The grips are mother-of-pearl slabs with channels cut for a gilt brass binding wire. The base of the grip has a decorated gilt ferrule next to the guard. The knucklebow is cast and chased in relief with floral elements and spiral disks at pommel and crossguard, which also terminates in a disk quillon. The shell counterguard has a deeply cast and chased with a dynamic American eagle with a US shield on its chest, clutching branch and arrows, superimposed on a sunburst of deeply defined flaring rays. The blade etching is very visible, with just a couple of small, negligible dark gray spots. The etching is primarily floral and leafy vines, but with some military and patriotic motifs. The obverse includes a flag, a US shield, and on the reverse an American eagle with an “E Pluribus Unum” ribbon overhead near the top of the etched panel. The blade is bright overall with a good point and no edge nicks.

The scabbard is gilt brass with shield shaped frog stud (with a dark spot behind it perhaps indicating and old repair) and single carrying rings at the top and midpoint directly attached to the scabbard rather than mounted on bands. The stud has cast floral designs, and floral motifs are engraved near the carrying rings and at the base of the scabbard upward from the button drag with notched base ring. The obverse upper and lower edges are also bordered with a repeating crescent and dot design.

This is a very nice example of a US militia sword in excellent condition with ornate decoration dating to the Mexican War or earlier.  [sr]

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