14-02-69 … While certainly not the prettiest Dragoon I have owned it is one of the most intriguing.
I purchased it from a man, who as a boy was working as a helper with his dad at Fort Clark, Texas just before WW2. He and his father found this well used jumbo six shooter in one of the buildings and kept it as a relic for two generations until selling it to me. What makes this gun so appealing is that it tells a story in the component parts and alterations. The barrel and rammer are true Colt dragoon parts from Colt s factory in Hartford Conn. The back half (frame, cylinder, grips, etc ) is from a Belgian or Austrian brevette Colt Dragoon. Note the serial number dies and touch mark shown in the photo. Obviously a country gunsmith took two broken dragoons and combined parts to make one serviceable revolver. During its period of use the hammer spur was broken and someone filed jagged notches in the back to allow a shooter with a strong thumb to still be able to cock the hammer despite the missing hammer spur. If you have a very strong thumb you can still cock it. Examination of the cylinder shows that at an even later time a gunsmith began boring out two chambers for metallic cartridges, but gave up.

The fact that this is a frontier marriage of parts, along with the cobbled-up hammer, tells me without much question that it was either carried by a Mexican, an Indian, or a Confederate down in the Lone Star state. The loading lever catch is missing but aside from that all the major parts are present.
Price on the cool old TEXAS relic
… $2,500.00 SOLD

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14-02-70 … A great Rarity – U.S. Cavalry Officer s Saber with a Rare Retractable Scabbard.
Officers liked the steel hilts and scabbards on the swords imported from European makers by American military goods dealers and frequently used them in the field. This is a high quality French made sword patterned on the British 1822 officer s sword, single edged, extended spearpoint blade, wide central fuller and narrow partial back fuller, with a branched guard, regulation sharkskin grip. Grip shows wear on the inside where one s fingers would rub it. The original triple wire binding using coil and line is in place and tight. Ricasso shows typical proved brass disk insert and is etched with military and floral motifs. Etching is worn and shows up more as dark against the silver gray and dark spots, but the various floral and martial motifs, and a spread winged eagle on a ribband with E PLURIBUS UNUM is partially visible. NOW THE GOOD PART- the scabbard is the EXTREMELY rare French made retractable scabbard made in two telescoping spring-loaded sections that slide together when the sword is drawn in order to get it out of the user s way. I have seen only a couple of these over the years and many advanced sword collectors have yet to snag one. Even John Thillman says he has only seen two! Throat is stamped Jay & Cie. / brevetes a Paris, roughly: Jay and Company, Patented in Paris. Excellent condition. There is a small red collection number from a long deceased Detroit collector, 75 B near the throat, and there is also some scratching on the very top of the pommel, which might be from handling or to mark out a set of initials. This is a very cool sword appropriate for any officer s display, but particularly for cavalry or other mounted officer, and is a hard-to-find trophy for the sword collector as well. One of the rarest and most interesting Civil War sabers I have owned
… $1,850.00 SOLD

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14-02-71 … Regulation Union Army Staff Officer s Hat Wreath:
One of the scarcer pieces of bullion embroidered insignia from the Civil War is this US Staff wreath. This one is medium large size, just under three inches across. Front has standard wreath with Olde English US inside the wreath. Back is a raw back with exposed threads. Back also shows where it was glued to a display board at one time. Darn rare piece of insignia
… $350.00

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14-02-72 … THE ELEGANT ELITE: A PRE-WAR EXCELSIOR BELT PLATE WITH EAGLES AND CANNON:
Untouched pre-Civil War militia belt plate, 1830s-1840s, rectangular die-struck plate with lovely deep patina overall, just some expected brightness from wear on raised surfaces. A spread-winged eagle perches on top of a globe amidst a panoply of flags and cannon in a central panel with an indented corner border and surrounding wreath of leaves, all on a serrated background framed by the edge of the plate. Two tongues are still in place on the raised bar on the reverse to secure a belt. The belt keeper or hasp is still present with this plate. These were often used on very thin, high quality morocco leather belts, that seldom hold up over the years as well as the simpler bridle and buff leather rigs. The eagle and globe motif and the Excelsior motto clearly point to use by one of the many New York volunteer militia companies (as distinct from the general enrolled militia) who supplied their own uniforms, and often better quality arms. Early American militia stuff is often of high quality and offers a lot of variety, color, and history with many different patterns of plates, accoutrements and uniforms. I also think they carry a lot of history of the young Republic with them. A fine early plate
… $475.00 SOLD

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14-02-73 … Union Army Canteen w/ Cover & Strap:
Regulation Union Army smooth canteen shows wear and age, but overall very good . Very hard to find these day
… $265.00 SOLD

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14-02-74 … Union Army Canteen w/ Cover, Strap & Stopper:
Regulation Union Army smooth canteen just as issued to Billy Yank shows wear and age, but overall fine . Very hard to find these days complete with cover, strap, and stopper
… $365.00 SOLD

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14-02-75 … Rare Medium Size Us Oval Buckle:
One of the rarest of Civil War buckles is this stud back US oval which is roughly 75% the size of a standard US buckle. This one is non dug and very fine condition … just showing expected light handling and wear and one minor dent on the bottom edge. Extremely scarce
… $595.00

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14-02-76 … Finely Engraved British Coat Pistol:
Elegantly engraved steel frame, barrel, butt cap and trigger guard superb quality engraving. The is a British percussion coat pistol with checkered dark wood grip and captive ramrod on a swivel. Profuse floral scroll engraving on the frame and hammer, even a delicate flower on the rammer head, and more floral scrolls on the frame at the breech, the bottom of the trigger guard and the steel butt cap. Rammer runs on rib beneath the barrel, pivots at the muzzle and tucks into a short sheath/tube in front of the trigger guard when not in use. Excellent condition wood with full checkering and a small oval escutcheon at the wrist. Despite the beauty and fine engraving, these pistols were meant for business: roughly .50 caliber, they packed a bug punch, and were easily carried in an overcoat pocket. They could be pulled quickly for self defense against a scoundrel highwayman who needed dispatching to the nether regions before he snatched your watch and purse. Overall steel gray with some darker areas forward, but nice hints of underlying smokey blue in some places and very vivid engraving on frame and receiver flowing onto the breech. A very nice gun that repays study. 5 inch barrel. 10 inches overall
… $495.00

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14-02-77 … Very Scarce Early Pattern Gibbs Civil War Carbine:
The government contracted for 10,000 of these, but only about a thousand were made before the factory went up in flames during the New York City draft riots of 1863. It is, and always has been, one of the key collector carbines as it is truly scarce and very difficult to find. The barrel tips up by lowering the combination trigger guard – lever to insert a .52 cal. cartridge into the breech. It is quite a modern design for the period. Condition is VG. The sling ring is in place. The wood is very good in fact better than most as this one does not have the large crack that most Gibbs have in front of the breech lever. There is a miniscule stress line present, but no crack as we usually see. There is a set of initials lightly carved on the inboard side and a cross carved on the outboard side of the butt stock. The barrel is a smooth brown and the receiver brown mixed with gray. The only two minor warts are a missing hammer screw, and an improper bolster cleanout screw both can be easily replaced, I just don t want to delay listing this gun while waiting for the gunsmith to find, purchase, and then replace the screws. Front and rear sights are in place. Bore is VG+++. Mechanically perfect. The lock is marked with the early marking of Brooks / Manfd. New York Stamped US on the butt plate. Very few were made and all saw action. Half the production went to the 10th Missouri Cavalry and the balance to the 13th and 16th New York. All were made prior to July 1863. This specimen turned up in Illinois so may be one of the 10th Missouri guns. It is a very solid representative example of a very scarce Early War cavalry carbine. Priced as friendly as I can make it at
… $3,500.00

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14-02-78 … Ulster County Gazette newspaper news of George Washington’s death
… A wonderful piece of early American ephemera. Though dated 1800, in actuality this newspaper was printed in the 1830s. It is an early reprint of the original Ulster County Gazette. Even back in the 1830s George Washington souvenirs were darn rare. The original 1800 editions of this paper command tens of thousands of dollars. These 1830s reprints are not exactly, common. The graphics are wonderful. The paper has some minor separations and tears, but is in overall very good solid condition. in terms of displaying an artifact from the period of George Washington’s life, this slightly post-period Item is absolutely spectacular for display. This so-called reprint is 175 years old. Unquestionably a rare and desirable antique in its own right. I challenge you to find another priced at
… $195.00

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14-02-79 … Superb Carved Devil s Face Pipe:
One of my personal favorites. This must have looked wicked when smoking and glowing! ;A really neat piece of folk art and Tobacciana as a friend of mine calls it. Pipe smoking was a favorite pastime in the army during the Civil War as well as on the frontier. And this is one heck of an 1860s large size carved pipe bowl. I can t pass up neat smoking pipes and neither could our late good friend Norm Flayderman whose book on carved pipes is being completed by his family. This is one Norm would have appreciated. Not a pipe for use in the presence of ladies, this, a vividly carved face part human, part beast, with protruding brows, wisps of shaggy hair and prominent ram s horns. This must have looked pretty darn impressive when loaded up and lit. Small nick and crack on the top front edge, ;a larger one curling down on the reverse, but solid. This is a topnotch example and would look great in a devilish officer s effects
… $450.00 SOLD

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14-02-80 … NCO sword sling and eagle plate:
These shoulder slings were designed for musicians and sergeants to carry their swords. They utilize the 1839 pattern circular eagle shoulder belt plate with three hooks on the reverse to adjust the length of the belt/sling. This specimen has a lovely patina with much original gilt in the recessed areas. Reverse has three double wire hooks. These belts were used both for the musician s sword, and the NCO sword, this specimen is technically the sergeant s version as it has the two open pockets for receiving the NCO sword and the bayonet. As is typical of Civil War production examples only one pocket has a hole for the sword scabbard hook and the bayonet was retained on the waist belt. NCO swords were regarded more as a badge of rank than a useful weapon and were usually relegated to camp and parade, but they definitely saw action on the battlefield as well according to many contemporary references and reports. It seems NCOs such as the regimental sergeant majors continued to carry them in the field throughout the conflict. A top notch specimen on all fronts. Rates an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. Super
… $750.00 SOLD

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14-02-81 … Exquisite Quality Infantry Officer s Embroidered Insignia for the Dress Hat!
They literally do not come any better than this! If you want to know what a Civil War officer saw and felt as he opened that box from Schuyler, Hartley and Graham or Horstmann, this is it. Fantastic condition oval velvet backed gilt embroidered infantry horn with wire border and silver embroidered number 2 in the middle indicating the Second Infantry of a state or the US regular army. The horn is that nice fat embroidery we like that denoted a quality product. The interior metal stiffener plate is in place, as is the cloth backing and both loops. As with the eagle side plate offered elsewhere on this list, this is a key piece of insignia and would look fantastic with that uniform or fancy officer s sword. I can t think of the last time I had one even coming close to this in terms of rich quality and superb condition
… $750.00

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14-02-82 … GAR Photo Identified 6th US Cavalry Trooper:
The Sixth US Cavalry was an interesting unit and there is a regimental history just recently released. Recruited in May, 1861, in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the regiment was a new addition to the US army and was originally designated the Third US Cavalry. When all mounted units were redesignated cavalry in August the Third changed its numerical designation to the Sixth. It was mounted and equipped in Maryland in September, though only two companies were issued carbines until early 1862, the regiment being considered light cavalry until then, most companies armed only with pistols and sabers. It then took the field and saw its first fighting with McClellan during the Peninsular Campaign that Spring.

Here is a photo of one of their veterans, wearing a GAR coat by the look of it, with a GAR lapel stud as well, taken about 1890. Obviously removed from a frame at some point. Irregularly trimmed along edge and some edge chipping, glue spots on reverse, but not affecting image itself and would look great matted again. Identified along lower edge in period ink: H.E. Vick B U.S. Cav. and on reverse No. 3 / Holend Vick/ B 6 US Cav. in ink and pencil. Holland E. Vick enlisted as a private in Co. B of the 6th US Cavalry on August 5, 1861. He was discharged for disability Oct. 18, 1862, at Fortress Monroe, but this would have given him service during the Peninsular Campaign and through Antietam. A cursory online search shows a Holland Vick born in Ohio in 1834, and this may be our man, though the regiment also supposedly had a large number of recent Irish immigrants in it. It had a good wartime record though, and many of its officers were transfers from other regular army units when it was first organized
… $50.00

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14-02-83 … A Smith and Wesson No. 2 Army Revolver:
The standard S&W Civil War revolver. I am rushed for time as I type this trying to get this list uploaded in the next half hour so will let the pictures tell the story. Fair to Good condition with obvious pitting and cleaning but still solid and representative.100% original 100% complete. Serial number lost due to cleaning long ago. Our most affordable Civil War revolver this week
… $375.00 SOLD

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14-02-84 … Regulation Cavalry Holster:
This is the standard issue holster for the Colt and Remington Army and Navy revolvers. Overall good condition showing handling and being supple and floppy. Small repair on latch tab, otherwise 100% complete and original
… $360.00 SOLD

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14-02-85 … CDV Officer s or General s Wife on Horseback with Her Armed Escort:
Strikingly rare subject and incredibly clear and crisp. Soldier holding bridle is decked out in regulation cavalry or light artillery uniform and accoutrements. I cannot determine if his hat bears crossed saber insignia or crossed cannon insignia. The lady is dressed in finery fit for a general s wife. It was common practice for officer s to have their wives come and stay in camp with them, and that is undoubtedly what this photo illustrates. Really a wonderful Civil War photo
… $325.00 SOLD

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14-02-86 … Toledo Ohio Officer:
I can t tell you much more about this photo that you can t see in the illustration. Line officer, photo taken right here in Toledo. Some stains on card. Local regiments he might have served in include — 14th Ohio, 100th Ohio, and 111th Ohio
… $49.00

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14-02-87 … Patriotic Bowie Knife with Original Red Scabbard.
Silver panel embossed grips with mother of pearl insets. The upper and lower sections are floral designs. The central panel on each side has a wonderful spread-winged US eagle curling its neck over a US shield with branches spreading below and a row of stars over the eagle. Nice untouched muted color to the silver. Oval German silver guard. Classic Bowie blade with false back edge. One minor nick on the edge, otherwise very nice. Untouched, uncleaned blade a dull silver also, with some graying and a smattering of dark spots. Unmarked ricasso. Original red leather or leatherette scabbard, with gilt embossed border decoration and a central flourish on one side. German silver throat in place with flat belt hook. Small metal tip is long gone, but the scabbard extends almost to the point. A very nice bowie of good form, excellent for an early western display or military display. The knife measures 10 3/4″ in length, with a 6″ blade. A classic Union Army soldier s knife
… $1,950.00 SOLD

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14-02-88 … Quarter Plate Tintype youthful federal wearing state issue dark greatcoat.
A fine artistic pose housed in a full case (spine split). Excellent save for a rub which appears as a dark spot on the extreme right of the image and is of no consequence. A great image
… $195.00

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14-02-89 … Superb Condition Import Belgian Musket by Francotte:
Wonderful condition Francotte made Musket. These are usually beat to heck, having been imported in 1861, issued early in the war and beat around through 1863, and then taken back in and fobbed off on western troops … after which they spent a few decades blasting squirrels, rabbits, and rodents on farms. This one is fine++ condition! .69 caliber, nice- smooth metal with a pleasant aged patina, nice wood with no damage and fine sharp edges around the lock and on the off-side. Sling swivels securely in place, original ramrod. Cool, funky hammer extends high up to strike the tall cone and bolster. Bayonet stud in place. Bore good, mechanics fine. Several European crown marks, etc., but especially nice is a sharp A. Francotte stamp in the wood. He was one of the best Belgian gun makers who supplied arms to various European countries and whose products ended up over here when we could not manufacture arms fast enough to equip the new volunteers. Top drawer condition in all respects and a fraction the cost of a Springfield in the same condition
… $995.00 SOLD

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14-02-90 … Impressive Prussian Model 1811 Blucher Waterloo Era Cavalry Saber.
This heavy bladed cavalry saber with an iron P-guard hilt was a standard design for light cavalry in the Napoleonic era and made a fearsome cutting weapon. It was widely used by the Prussian Cavalry under the command of General Gebhard Leberecht von Bl cher in the Battle of Waterloo. They may have been used in the American War of 1812 as well. The British version from which this was copied was the 1796 pattern; this Prussian version is more substantial and takes its name from the famous German general. Wide blade with a single wide fuller, mostly bright mixed with gray but with some darker cloudy areas on the outboard side about 1/3 along the blade and at the back edge. Iron guard with langets and backstrap with ears, leather wrapped grooved grip, no wire, about 2/3 leather still there, wood exposed near pommel. Heavy iron scabbard with drag, carrying rings and throat, showing brown overall. Light salt and peppering overall to the iron, but not unsightly. German regimental markings at top of scabbard and on guard. Some research may prove (or disprove) an actual association with Waterloo. As is nearly always the case the numbers on sword and scabbard do not match- these swords and scabbards were kept in service for decades and used by Reserve units later. Keeping the scabbards together was apparently never a concern with the Germanic Armies. A great early weapon … 200 years old
… $595.00

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14-02-91 … Percussion conversion militia musket.
Elegant English militia musket, Ketland lock, originally flint, converted probably in the 1830s to percussion by a competent gunsmith using a side-drum, or side-lug bolster, and a shapely civilian style hammer that is nicely engraved with floral motifs. Classic British style stock with prominent handrail, teardrop carving at rear of lock plate and beavertail raised area around the breech plug tang. Set up for sling, but swivels missing. Convex elongated-S brass escutcheon side plate. Retains all three ramrod thimbles. Has button-head rammer, brass nose cap, top mounted bayonet stud/sight. Light baluster rings at breech, view/proof marks top left of breech and larger No. 18 rack number engraved at center just forward of proofs. Even gray/brown tones to barrel with some areas of bluing showing. A little crustiness on barrel and lock near the nipple from firing, but not bad. Slight crack showing below side plate, next to trigger guard. A couple of small sets of initials stamped in wood on offside and near trigger guard tang, possibly inspector or stocker. A nice gun. Looks very much like an officer s fusil, but with the rack number on the barrel I feel more comfortable calling it a militia musket. This style was in use 1810 through 1830s. The architecture of this stock with the long thin wrist would tend to indicate the earlier part of the period. These are elegant weapons and I think they are underpriced in the market. Such anomalies are the collector s best friend. A lot of history for the money
… $695.00 SOLD

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14-02-92 … War time M1860 Staff & Field Officer s Sword:
This is the 1860 staff officers sword which is virtually impossible to find made pre 1865, a true rarity in military collectibles. This sword is etched with the US coat of arms, military trophies, and floral designs, and it bears a French blade maker s touch mark on the ricasso. The knuckle-bow is cast with floral designs, and the guard has an eagle and arms on one side, with the opposite hinged clam shell guard being smooth. This sword is missing the small push-button ball, which helps keep the counter-guard either open or closed. The condition is about fine+. All you need to do is find a scabbard
… $650.00 SOLD

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14-02-93 … Springfield Model 1816 Conversion with Bayonet.
Attic condition and in the black . Nicely dated Spring/field / 1838 in three lines behind the hammer. Typical cone-in-barrel arsenal conversion with the brass flash pan ground off flush with the lock plate and a percussion military hammer installed on the tumbler, with the barrel tapped for a cone. Untouched crusty brown metal overall, with visible marks on butt plate tang, lockplate, etc. Has distinct visible cartouches in the wood. Dings and divots here and there, a small bit of wood out near breech plug tang, a couple of small carved initials. Shows use, bruises, wartime bangs, but no abuse nor neglect. Also present is its well aged and beat-up socket bayonet that is basically jammed on the barrel. The bridge over the mortise slot is broken, the socket is slightly bent, the US is visible at base of blade and condition matches the gun. Original ramrod is present (slightly bent), all the bands, sling swivels, front sight, etc are in place. Surprisingly good edges to the wood. This is the typical early Civil War long arm. When percussion arms were adopted the government went through its arsenals and armories and selected only the most recent and better condition guns for conversion from flintlock. This one obviously made the cut. It has seen a lot of history and is just the sort of musket to be handed down in a family. Perfect for display with Union of Confederate effects from the period 1861 1862 … and appropriate for Confederate display through 1865. Gun and bayonet
… $895.00 SOLD

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14-02-94 … 18th Century Ivory-gripped, Silver Inlaid, Iron Mounted Officer s Short Saber,
Cutlass or Couteau with Clipped Point Blade Profusely Decorated with Panoplies of Arms and Cabalistic Signs. I generally don t buy early European weapons, but this one really grabbed me. I felt it could have been carried in any number of historical battles. It is a French made sword intended to evoke images of the early exotic ages with talisman marks and some mystical signs associated with the Kabbalah.

Ivory hilt with incised lines running along the edge on both sides of the rectangular-cross sectioned grips. High capstan rivet pommel with slight pistol-grip-flare. Outboard side of the grip has an inset oval silver plaque engraved with a very French trophy of arms consisting of a drum, flags, bow and spears. Single knucklebow guard with central eight-pointed star and rays motif on either side with an engraved toothed line on either edge with punch-decorated dots. Slightly downturned flat round quillon that continues the motif into a spiral. Recurved langets with mixed floral and geometric motifs and the same punch decorated jagged border. Small hole at top of knucklebow for a sword knot. Overall length is 33.75 inches. The 28.5 inch blade is single edged with a wide ricasso, single broad fuller and clip point with false edge. Both sides of the blade show an etched or engraved sword-wielding arm appearing out of a cloud at the ricasso. This motif is found on many early swords, 18th century and prior, and represents The Sword of God . It can be found on weapons from Europe to the Middle East. A precursor to Germany s Gott Mitt Uns , and every nation s belief that God is on their side, especially during battle. On the inboard side above this is a trophy of arms, some mystical numbers and letters, a sun with a face and pointed rays, followed by two more rows of mystical signs and lastly a man-in-the-moon looking down on a star. Similar motifs are found on Revolutionary War blades. On the outboard side, a somewhat floral star sits under more mystical symbols. Above that a long oval panel with the face of the sun at top has the bases and tops of pole arms peaking up behind it, while on it is another trophy of arms showing an arrow, quiver, flag and clip-pointed sword like this one. Above that is another set of mystical signs topped by a star. The blade is very clean, just some minor gray and dark spots here and there, slightly more near the tip, but very, very legible from across the room. The grip is extra fine and solid ivory and silver. Extremely minor chipping at the base near the guard, a couple of dark lines showing from deep inside. The story of the old-testament rooted mysticism of the Cabala or Kabbalah, its roots and many off-shoots in Judaism, Christianity, mysticism, freemasonry, etc., is too vast to deal with here. There were a number of upsurges in interest in its mysticism in Europe starting in the Renaissance. My feeling is that the sword dates about 1750-70 and the owner was either truly interested in the mysticism of the symbols used on the blade or he wanted a blade that evoked the mysterious east: This is very pretty and exotic sword, and one meant for business. Eye catching, fearful, handsome, this one stands out in an edged weapons collection
… $2,500.00

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