A Good American Militia Sword made by, J. H. LAMBERT, PHILADELPHIA
#081
A Good Antique American Militia Sword made by, J. H. LAMBERT, PHILADELPHIA, circa. 1830-1840's. 29" curved single-edge blade. Militia officers light artillery or infantry officer's sword manufactured Joseph H. Lambert of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania c. 1840. The sword generally resembles the U.S. Model 1840 Light Artillery Saber with a lighter shorter blade. The ricasso is inscribed "J.H. Lambert" on the obverse and "Philadelphia" on the reverse. AMERICAN SWORDS AND SWORD MAKERS by Richard H. Bezdek lists "J. (Joseph) H. Lambert as a Philadelphia sword maker from 1839. The sword has a 29-inch curved blade with a single stopped fuller and flat spine. Each side of the blade is decorated with three, simple, gold washed, dry needle etchings that feature a stand of arms, military trophies and a floral spray. The etchings are on a brilliant fire blue panel that extends from the ricasso to the mid-point of the blade. The obverse ricasso is stamped with an unidentified round proofmark that contains what appears to be a squirrel. The gold plated brass hilt has a Phrygian helmet style pommel cap, single branch knuckle bow and down-turned quillion with cast acanthus leaf decorations. The grip is leather covered and wrapped with a double strand of twisted brass wire. The scabbard has a black leather (exterior loses but structurally sound) body with gold-plated brass throat, suspension band, drag and two suspension rings.
The blade is very fine and retains at least 95% of the original fire blue and gold wash finish. The bright portion of the blade is in very good+ condition and shows staining and areas of surface rust (can be removed). The hilt retains about 30% of the gold plated finish. The leather grip cover is complete but shows handling wear and the twisted brass wire wrap is intact. The scabbard is good. The leather body is solid with tight stitching but the surface of the leather has flaked from age. The brass scabbard mounts are also fine and retain at least 30% of the gold-plated finish. This is a fine example of a U.S. Militia officer's saber from the Mexican War period with an outstanding, fire-blue and gold wash blade.
TTI-575822
