Medicus
Officer’s Eagle Head Saber
Museum Deaccession

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Presented is a very rare eagle head saber made
for the American Market with reeded bone grip, all in exceptional condition. The sword has a very rare pierced
cross guard with four open panels that extend into a sturdy stirrup guard that dates to this period. The original
scabbard is in the same remarkable condition with excellent leather, two suspension rings and its metal tip and
mounts present. The pommel is fitted with a Ketland style eagle in sharp detail with the tang coming through the
top of the head. The hilt is slightly loose. The very high quality and sharpness of the features of the eagle and the rest
of the metalwork’s handle design suggest that this sword was made from an original mold in the early days of production. Approximately, thirty
percent of its silver wash, and ninety percent of the bluing and gilding remains. The accession number, 56.3.2, appears
on the front of the reverse side of the guard.
PROVENANCE: Purchased by Norm Flayderman, Wallingford Hall, Kennebunk, Maine on September 8, 1956; “From the most
important American Sword Collection of Philip Medicus, New York, New York”. Then to a museum, Accession number 56.3.2. Deaccession
to benefit the Museum Collection Fund.
Ref. Bazelon &
McGuinn. ” A Directory of American Military Goods, Dealers, & Makers 1785-1915.” Manassas, VA, 1990. Page 76.
Flayderman, Norm. “American Swords From the Philip Medicus Collection”. Mowbray
Publishers, 1998. Page 112, plates 52, 53e.
 

 

 

 

          The Ketland style
eagle head is easily recognizable by its sharp features and flattened crest

 

 

 

BLADE: The moderately curved, single edge blade, with a single
large, 19″ x 3/4″ fuller has most of its bluing and gilding intact. At the obverse ricasso it is marked, “Wm Ketland &
Co.” over “Warranted”. The forward part has some light rust marks and minor pitting. The simple etched designs are of American
Heraldry consisting of a gilded American Shield, Flag, Cannon barrel and Oak leaves with other sprayed foliage.

 

GRIP: There is a crack
in the length of the ivory which is hardly noticeable, and a small triangular imperfection at the pommel end that do not show
in the photographs.

 

 




      Gilded American Shield, Flag, Cannon barrel and Oak leaves with other sprayed foliage

 

THE SCABBARD: The black leather scabbard is in exceptional
condition with only a few age cracks, no loss of leather, tight stitching, and no shrinking. It is complete with its mountings,
including the tip with flat ended drag all of which have some of their silver wash remaining.

BRIEF HISTORY: William Ketland & Co. was active in Birmingham,
England as a gun maker as early as 1780. The father and grandson, both William, had died by 1804 and the firm passed to a
brother-in-law, Thomas Izon, who traded under the Ketland & Co., name until 1831 when operations ceased. Sword
making by the firm dates from the earliest days of 1804 as part of Izon’s success in dealing in the American Trade. He
likely had help of family members, John and Thomas, living in Philadelphia and importers such as G.
Upson in New York.
DIMENSIONS: Length in scabbard overall 33″
Length of blade 28″ Width 1 1/4 Thickness 1/4″ Length overall 32 7/8″
The hilt is 4 7/8″ Weight Saber 1 lb 12 oz Weight
in scabbard 2 lb 5 oz

 

  Four open panel pierced guard of the Period 
     This style guard is well known,
but rare

 


       Mounts complete with suspension rings.
Note the flat tipped drag. Some silver wash remains

 

 

 An exceptional eagle head saber made for the
American Market by Ketland with impeccable provenance

 

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:

The American Eagle-Pommel
Sword by E. Andrew Mowbray
The American Sword, 1775-1945, by Harold E. Peterson
Swords & Blades of the American
Revolution by George C. Neumann

OUR UNCONDITIONAL NO NONSENSE GUARANTEE: If not completely
satisfied with your purchase it may be returned within five days of receipt in its original packaging if without damage.
Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email authorization from us for the return is required. Shipping
charges are  included in this offer if an error is due to our fault.

 

International buyers welcome,
but y
ou are responsible for knowing the import laws of your country. We have satisfied
customers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic,
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United Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean.

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personal check in which case the item will be held until cleared. No credit cards or PayPal accepted on this item.

Copyright 2010 – 2009 by Land And Sea Collection™,
All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

 

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Shipping & Packaging

The cost of shipping, packing, handling, and insurance to your destination, will be calculated point to point and is an additional charge. You may email us to get these costs. We price our shipping honestly, but we expect to be reimbursed for the nominal cost of packaging materials and handling.

Our Unconditional 'No Nonsense' Guarantee

If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within three days of receipt in its original packaging. Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email authorization by us for the return is required. Shipping charges are refundable if due to our error within the continental United States.

International buyers welcome, but inquire first. We have satisfied customers worldwide.

Standard Forms of Payment

Bank wire transfer, cashier’s check, money order, or personal check in which case the item will be held until cleared. Our prices are quoted net to us so that the use of credit cards or PayPal incur extra charges. Terms on overseas sales are different.

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