We purchased this regulation US 1850 Staff and Field Officer’s Sword from the collections of the War Library and Museum of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S., the veteran’s organization composed of former Union officers. This still retains their small inventory number in black ink on a white base applied at the scabbard throat and base of the blade, providing a nice record of its pedigree.

Adopted in 1850 for officers of field grade, majors and above, and those serving on staff duty, such as regimental adjutants or aides to generals, etc., the blade is a bit longer than the foot officer’s version, the scabbard is metal, since these officers served mounted, and the open-work guard incorporates a floating “U.S.” The condition is excellent. The brass mounted scabbard is smooth metal and preserves loads of it original blue with a plum cast with a little rubbing to the blue toward the drag and a few age spots and light dings on the reverse of the drag, but the mounts have a nice medium tone to them, nicely engraved borders and raised floral ring bands. The drag, rings, ring mounts, and throat are all in place and secure.

The hilt is excellent, with a medium tone to the brass matching the scabbard mounts. The sharkskin grip wrap is complete and has a nice dark gray color. The twisted wire binding is present and tight. The cast and chased floral openwork of the guard and the pommel motifs are nicely defined. We see one very slight ding to the outer bar of the guard shortly after is splits off from the knucklebow.

The blade etching is strong. The obverse bears the Horstmann and Sons Philadelphia company name above the stamped king’s head of the Weyersberg brothers, who supplied many of Horstmann’s swords and blades. The blade shows some gray spotting, but the floral, military, and patriotic motifs stand out against the etched background that still has much of its frosting. The obverse features a stand of arms and scrolling vines (with a small gray area,) followed by a very nice U.S. eagle with arrows and olive branch, an E Pluribus Unum scroll, and more floral elements, with the frosting ending in a pointed starburst. The reverse has similar floral scrollwork, a stand of arms with a long stars and stripes pennant, a “U.S.” and more arms and floral scrolls with similar starburst rays ending the frosting. Both sides show some nice, smooth, bright metal above the etched panels to the point. The back edge of the blade is etched with the standard “Iron Proof” motto, which is legible, but shows gray.

This is a very nice regulation U.S. officer’s sword on its own, with a great pedigree to boot. Not only is it by the most famous Philadelphia military goods dealer, it comes from the museum incorporated by former Union officers in 1888 and housed from 1922 in Philadelphia townhouse. After the museum’s closure in 2008 many of their artifacts went to other institutions and others were sold at auction just recently. This is a wonderful provenance.    [sr] [ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!