KLINGENTHAL IMPORT US M1850 FOOT OFFICER’S SWORD

KLINGENTHAL IMPORT US M1850 FOOT OFFICER’S SWORD

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$975.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1273-36

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The US Model 1850 Foot Officer’s Sword, officially adopted in 1851, was based on a French 1845 officer’s saber pattern, so it is no surprise to find French imports that may only broadly follow the US regulations. This has a typical brass hilt with stepped pommel decorated with rosette and leafy vine, a twisted-wire bound sharkskin grip, a knucklebow leading to a foliate openwork guard with forward curving, scroll quillon, and single edged, slightly curved blade, housed in a brass mounted black leather scabbard, etc. A few differences are immediately noticeable- the screw-fastened knucklebow, perhaps slightly larger swell of the grip than most, etc., but nothing that undercuts its general appearance as a US M1850.

More noticeable, however, is the use of generic foliate, martial and patriotic motifs in the blade etching, which don’t undercut its American usage, but made it suitable for broad export for use by various foreign purchasers, omitting specific national emblems, in this case the “US” and eagle with E Pluribus Unum ribbon scroll, and simply starting on both sides with a palmette, vine-entwined stand of arms and flags, followed by foliate scrolls, a second floral/martial stand of arms and flags, with final group of foliate scrolls, ending with a final burst of sun rays very much like the palmette leaves at the base, with the frosted ground ending in an Arabesque spearpoint. The back of the blade is etched with a leafy vine and dry needle engraved, “Manufre de Klingenthal Coulaux et Cie.”

For a similar Klingenthal-made M1850 Foot Officer’s Sword with generic foliate and martial motifs, but with a wartime inscription from a NY officer, see Thillmann, US Army Swords, p. 340, described by him as a “Conventional Hilt Klingenthal Foot Officer’s Sword.”

The condition of the sword is very good. The scabbard is complete and intact, but shows losses to the finish. The brass hilt shows some traces of gilt finish on the pommel and in the scrolled quillon finial in particular. The grip shows dark gray, with some wear, but the all the nodes of the rayskin there. The surface has no holes, and the wire binding is in place. The thin leather oval at the base of the blade on the underside of the guard to seal the scabbard throat is there, but has a tear and is loose. The blade, however, is bright, the etching is vivid, and the edge and point are very good. The black leather scabbard body has no bends or breaks, but shows flaking and losses to the finish overall. The lightly impressed border lines on both sides are there. The seam, glued rather than sewn, is intact. The gilt brass mounts are in place and match the patina of the hilt, showing remnants of the gilt finish.

This is an interesting example of an import US M1850 that merits a place in an infantry officer’s display or collection of US officer’s swords- not perhaps among high-end presentations and the like, but those carried by common lieutenants and captains who, like other officers, had to buy their own uniforms, equipment, and weapons.  [jet][ph:L]

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