Naval Swords

83 – C1835 Eagle Pommel With Solid Half Basket Hilt By Emanuel

This British made sword has an unusual large eagle pommel with a solid half basket hilt and fish skin grip. The guard exterior is similar to those used on the Royal Navy pattern 1827 swords but is missing its applied anchor. The double edged slightly curved spear point blade is 30 inches long. The reverse blade has the maker's name: E & ___/ Emanuel/ -3-/ Hard Portsea/ 101 High St/ Portsmouth. Ezekial Emanuel and Emanuel Emanuel were at this address from 1830. Etched Blade motifs include an anchor, 19 stars and an acorn oak leaf cluster on the obverse and an anchor, a large single star and an oak leaf cluster on the reverse. There is no scabbard. $2100

84.   Cavalry Sword Worn By Naval Officer (Book Plate  2.87)

This sword is totally out of character for a naval officer but nevertheless was worn by one. It is a French (Klingenthal) made presentation grade cavalry officers sword with naval motifs including USN on the blade.  The pommel top is a simple cap surrounded by deeply chased oak leaves with the head of Neptune at its rear. The hand formed grip is snakeskin wrapped with triple gilded wire.  The guard is an open half basket with cutouts on the obverse and reverse.  The obverse is dominated by an eagle on a shield with a band of stars above and flanked by flags and leafy sprays.  The knuckle-bow is elaborately chased with floral designs, as is the quillon that is attached to the guard by an oak leaf.  The hilt is identical to that of the cavalry sabre shown on pp 262 and 263 of John Thillmans book Civil War Cavalry and Artillery Sabers   The blade the double fullered curved blade isy long - 36 inches.  The obverse ricasso is stamped with a crown over B within an oval and an S within a shield. The blade spine is etched with floral sprays and inscribed Manuf de Klingenthal.  The motifs on the obverse blade include geometric patterns, a grape leaf spray, a floral spray and a large stand of arms.  The motifs within the stand of arms include an eagle with upswept wings above a shield with USN on it, a stand of pikes, and a masthead with banner and stars.  Above this is a leafy spray and an oak leaf and acorn spray.   The reverse motifs include similar geometric patterns, a leafy spray, a stand of arms without naval motifs, and the same floral and oak leaf acorn spray as the obverse.  The scabbard is blue metal with brass throat, two relatively small flowered carrying ring bands and a simple brass drag. $4500            

Pattern 1852 Sword Of Asst Surgeon Franklin Hinkle By Horstmann (Book Plate 3.53)

Assistant Surgeon Franklin Hinkle wore this sword supplied by Horstmann. The reverse ricasso is stamped with the Weyersberg king’s head and the obverse blade is needlepoint engraved across the blade with the supplier's name: W. H. Horstmann / & Sons / Philadelphia.

Franklin Hinkle was an assistant surgeon who resigned from the U.S. Navy in 1862 due to ill health and became a contract surgeon for the U.S. Army from 1862 to 1864. The blade reads F. Hinkle in the owner’s nameplate along the blade and the scabbard reverse mount reads: F. Hinkle, M.D., / U.S. Navy.

The slightly curved blade is etched with a floral along its top spine. The mint frosted blade is etched and the obverse has the Horstmann name with F. Hinkle in the center.  The sharkskin scabbard has pattern mounts with the pattern dolphin on the drag chased on both sides. $4500

40- P1841 Sword By London Manufactori (Book Plate 3.40)

This British made sword with Solingen blade is marked: London/Manufac/tori, in needlepoint engraving on the obverse blade. The ivory grip has carved geometric designs like Ames’ swords but is very flat and not formed to the hand. The obverse turned down guard has the British two-acorn motif and the reverse guard is plain. The plain knuckle-bow terminates in the eagle’s mouth a feature seen only on these British swords. The pipe backed blade is slightly curved and is deeply etched. The blade motifs are unique and the reverse blade has United States Navy in script along the blade. The leather scabbard top mount has a stud with raised anchor and its top has a half circle cutout for the guard springs. The middle mount has the typical fouled anchor of the pattern. The bottom mount has a variant oak leaf acorn motif with six acorns and ten oak leaves. $4800

Pattern 1852 Sword S&K; (Book Plate 3.58)

This is a rare and unusual Solingen made and marked sword with the obverse blade etched with the manufacturer's name: Schnitzler/ &/ Kirschbaum/Solingen across the blade. The guard is standard but has minimal cutting out and relatively shallow chasing. The ferrule is unique in that it is vertically ribbed and the dolphin quillon is relatively flat instead of rounded. The grip is fish-skin wrapped. The slightly curved blade spine is etched with florals and has IRON PROOF along its length. The blade is in mint condition. The leather scabbardhas the double indented lines on both sides. It also has a separate engraved throat attached with screws on both sides of the top mount. All mounts are scalloped and engraved with geometric and floral patterns. $3500

54 - Imported Transitional Pattern Sword - Maker Unknown

This is an imported sword with a hilt like those made by Ames for its large hilt pattern 1841 swords. The pipe-backed blade is slightly curved and deeply etched over a length of 19-1/2 inch. It is 28-5/8 inch long and 1-1/8 inch wide – much wider than any made by Ames. The deeply etched blade has the typical naval motifs seen on these swords as well a long ornate name plate surrounding United States Navy along the blade. It could be English made. The scabbard mounts are engraved with the Pattern 1830 motifs but with carrying rings instead of a stud. SOLD

Post Civil War Pattern 1852 Sword With Pipe Back Blade (Book Plate 2.90)

A rare and unusual post-Civil War sword with a pattern 1852 hilt and a pipe back bladesimilar to that used on pattern 1841 naval swords. The obverse ricasso is etched: Shannon Miller / & Crane / New York. This is only the second pattern 1852 I’ve ever seen with this blade and both are shown in my book, U.S. Naval Officers: Their Swords and Dirks (plates 2.63 and 2.90). The fish skin grip is formed for the hand and topped with the pattern pommelwith eagle facing left. The guard and knucklebow are as per pattern. The leather scabbard has the double incised line down both sides. The mounts are as per pattern except they are raised on both sides indicating their overseas manufacture. $750

82 - Pattern 1830 Sword - Baltimore Supplier

British made P1830 sword distributed by RA Camprell/Baltimore and so marked. Relatively large eagle pommel with feathered ivory grip. Sword has blue and gilded pipe back blade with standard P1830 motifs on blade and scabbard mounts. Only U.S. Navy sword known by this rare supplier (not named in any reference book). Sword and scabbard in very good condition. $5700

Pattern 1852 Sword By Roby (Book Plate 3.57)

Roby made very few naval swords so one in this mint condition is very rare. There are no marks on the ricasso but the reverse blade has the manufacturer’s name: C Roby & Co / West Chelmsford / Mass, acid etched across the blade. The slightly curved blade is frosted and very deeply etched with all naval motifs raised. The leather scabbard has double indented line on both sides and pattern mounts with the pattern dolphin on both sides of the drag. The rear of the top mount is engraved along its length with C. Roby & Co / W. Chelmsford, Mass. SOLD

Silver Grip Sword Of Acting Masters Mate Charles C. Jones By Virgil Price Of New York

This is a high grade presentation sword in excellent condition.  The rear of the top scabbard mount is engraved: Presented to/ C.C. Jones/Jan 1st, 1863.  The obverse blade ricasso is etched Virgil Price/New York with a stamped knight’s figure below and stamped W.Clauberg/Solingen on the reverse.       

Jones was appointed acting masters mate in on 11 December 1862 from Portsmouth New Hampshire.  Jones was a gunner and during the War he served on the Macedonian, the Metacomet and the Niphron.  During the blockade and battle of Mobile Bay the relatively long time he spent at sea in an open gunboat led to his being discharged for illness in July 1864.    

The grip is 5-½ inch long with its non-pattern pommel decorated with a geometric and floral motifs.  The silver grip has 11 turns of a triple wire.  It has twisted gilt copper wire in the center with single strands of finer copper wire on each side.  The grip design is comprised of alternating ridged and plain raised surfaces with the wire between them.  The pommel and guard are very deeply chased relative to the standard pattern 1852 swords described.

The slightly curved blade is stamped with the number 9 or 6 on its top spine and etched Iron Proof.   The blade is 28-¾ inch long, 1-1/8th inch wide and over 3/8 inch thick at the 1-inch long ricasso.  It has two fullers: a wide one 20-½ inch long and a narrow one above 18-¼ inch long. The blade is etched over a 16 inch length.  The blade obverse has a cross hatched long tower surrounded by leaves, anchor with shield in a simple border, frame of 16 stars with simple inner border, a stand of arms with seven pikes, the center pike topped by a flag with engraved USN.  The blade reverse has the supplier’s name, a spread winged eagle sitting on a wheeled carronade with sun rays above, a fouled anchor, a horizontal U S N in a twisted ribbon, a long fouled line within oak leaves and acorns, completed by sun rays.

The leather scabbard has very elaborate engraved mounts relative to the pattern. Three mounts: top 3-9/16 inch long, middle 2-5/8 inch long and bottom 6-¼ inch long.  The top of the bottom mount is scalloped.  The top mount has a large USN within a floral frame above the nautical knot, and a geometric design below it.  The center mount has symmetrical floral engravings above and below the nautical knot.  Both mounts have 15/16 inch diameter carrying rings attached.  The bottom mount has a raised line across it with a long engraved foliate below to a deeply chased pattern dolphin drag.  All mounts are attached to the scabbard leather with screws. The scabbard has a bend in it just above the drag. $4200

Knights Head Pommel Small Sword (Book Plate 2.48)

This knight’s head pommel sword has a crosshatched ivory within side straps with a geometric design.  The turned down guard has a relatively large eagle with shield and upright anchor behind.  The reverse quillon is a lion head.  The 1 inch wide by 29-1/2 inch long single edged straight blade is blued and gilded about one-third down it’s length.  The obverse blade is gold etched S.H.F. on the obverse. This marking is believed to be that of the son of Simon Helvig of Solingen.  The scabbard is plain brass with two ring mounts and a frog stud.   $1800

Late Eagle Pommel Small Sword by Horstmann (Book Plate 2.51)

This is a late Horstmann marked eagle pommel sword that reflects Frederick Widmann’s design features dating it post 1848 when Widmann’s widow sold his designs and fixtures to Horstmann.  It has a fluted rectangular ivory grip with simple ribbed ferrule and an ornate knuckle-bow.  The turned down guard is relatively small and chased with a spread-winged eagle with shield holding arrows and a quiver.  The straight 13/16 inch wide by 28 inch long single edged blade is bright etched about one third of its length.  The blade obverse has a Weyersberg king’s head stamp on the ricasso and is etched W.H. Horstmann/&Sons/Philadelphia in a panel.  It also has a fouled anchor, the only indication of naval use.  The brass scabbard is engraved and has two ring mounts and a frog stud.  It also appears in Mowbrays Eagle Pommel book.  $2200