United States. A Model 1852 Naval Officer’s Dress Sword

A United States Navy Officer’s dress sword, measuring 90 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 74 cm-long, nickel-plated, magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and with a fuller running approximately three quarters of the length of each side. Intricate acid-etched designs are applied to both sides, with the obverse bearing a central oval flanked by arabesques (presumably for the addition of owner initials or monograms), in turn situated within United States Navy insignia and images of classical weapons. The reverse bears an array of analogous imagery, including ropes, fouled anchors, and an American eagle situated atop a naval cannon. The blade sits securely within a multi-piece hilt, with an intact buffer pad covering the seam. The hilt features an elaborate gilded brass crossguard and hand guard, the former bearing a United States Navy monogram, and the latter decorated with stylized fish scales. The handle is composed of a wooden core wrapped in a layer of ribbed rayskin, with the ribbing retaining an original twisted brass wire cord. The sword is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a boiled and blackened leather shaft. Gilded brass fixtures are secured to the tip, mid-section, and throat. The latter two feature integral rope rings retaining loops for the accommodation of a hanger. Fully unmarked, the sword demonstrates issues consistent with age and wear, including some tarnishing and pitting to the blade, minor deterioration of the handle grip, material fatigue to the scabbard shaft, and extensive oxidation of the scabbard’s brass fixtures. The sword remains in an overall very fine condition.