This Important Relic Has Been Sold. Thank you! EAGLE HEAD SABER By Wm KETLAND & Co Ca 1810 -1820 From the Philip Medicus Collection   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 you 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, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean. ACCEPTED FORMS OF PAYMENT are Bank wire transfer, cashier's check, money order, or 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