Description: SAVING AMERICAN HISTORY, AMERICAN MEXICAN WAR PRE CIVIL WAR, AND EARLY CIVIL WAR MILITIA OFFICER SWORD BY SIMON HELVIG & FILS, FRENCH MADE FOR AMERICAN MILITIA OFFICERS, USED DURING THE SEMINOLE INDIANS, AND DURING THE AMERICAN MEXICAN WAR. Presented is a straight eagle head officer’s sword that is decidedly of French origin. Its straight bladesuggests it may be an infantry officers sword, but it may also have been used by an officer of the mountedartillery. There what appears to be engraving under the obverse langet whichmay be S. H. J. or F.MAKER’S MARK SHF is the mark for Simon Helvig andFils who was active in the Alsace region of France from about 1820 – 1840. Reportedly, he exported many swords to the U.S.for sale by his agents. His mark was traditionally placed under the langet so the likelihood is that this firm was themaker.Other than that, there are no other maker’s marks. Whatever gilding was on the hilt has worn off completely.The prominent lion’s head or Medusa on the langet dates from the French First Empire.The hilt has an Eagle head pommel and stirrup guard both of which are unusualfor a French sword as is its bone grip. However, the authoritative book, “American Swords from the Collectionof Phillip Medicus“ by Norm Flayderman and Stuart Mowbray discusses two near exact matches tothis sword on page 100, Item 46b and 46c attributing 46b to French manufacture. Combined they have a similar bonegrip, forward facing quillion with rosette, Medusa langet, embellished ferrule, hip on the head for tang, and curvedstirrup guard.
Price: 1475 USD
Location: Chicago Heights, Illinois
End Time: 2024-12-06T16:50:22.000Z
Shipping Cost: 50 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
