This elegant, well-made sword dates to the War of 1812, and has some pleasing characteristics reminiscent of earlier 18^th-century hangers. It measures about 31 inches overall with a 5 ½ inch hilt and blade measuring about 25 inches. The hilt is brass, with a nicely aged and undisturbed patina. The hilt consists of a two-piece globe pommel with visible seam and capstan rivet, a stirrup guard with a divided counterguard having an obverse side loop, and a curving quillon terminating in a flat disk. The grip is black ebony with spiral groove and brass ferrules at top and bottom. The grip is very good, with excellent color, minor scratches, a small bit of old chipping at the reverse base and a tight hairline along the top, but is tight and stable. See Medicus/Flayderman Pl. 105d for an identical example, and an article by Nehrbass in Man at Arms (May/June 1985) 7.3, p. 59-61.

The straight blade is smooth metal, without pitting, muted silver in color with some scattered gray spots. A narrow fuller just below the back edge runs straight out from the guard. The blade has a false edge running back from the tip to about where the fuller runs out. The tip shows just slight rounding and a little roughness to the cutting edge toward the tip, but neither is particularly noticeable. The spine of the blade is clearly stamped “W. ROSE” near the guard. The obverse of the blade bears a “V” view/inspection stamp near the guard.

The Rose family were prominent Philadelphia sword makers, the firm being established by the elder William Rose (1754-1810) and carried on by sons William, Joseph, and Benjamin. The lack of an “& Sons” on this sword dates it after 1810 and establishes William Rose ((Sr.) 1783-1854) as the maker. The style of the sword is very similar to the Starr iron-hilted 1813 NCO swords and these have usually been identified as artillery NCO swords on the basis of the brass hilts, iron being regulation for infantry. They differ in blade length from the Starr NCO swords and a few reported Rose examples with 30-inch blades and collectors still debate the significance of the simple “V” mark versus some with both a “V” and a “W,” as well. Some have suggested simple contractor variations, possible use by militia or even Marine Corps, but others have pointed out the shorter length is appropriate for artillerymen, who are constantly obliged to step over gun trails and equipment, and point to a British artillery officer’s reminiscence of the period that he usually wore a dirk in the field because a long sword got in the way. In any case, this is a very good example of an attractive U.S. sword of the War of 1812 by one of the best known makers of the period.  [sr] [ph:L]

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