United States. An 1852 Pattern United States Navy Officer's Sword

Sword incorporates a magnetic steel blade, with a dull edge and having a sharp tip, with the fuller running three quarters of the length of the sword on both sides, marked "3" on the spine. The obverse is etched with a series of icons including: a collage of crossed axes fronted by an eagle, with a trident thrusting upwards into a ship flying a standard inscribed "USN"; fifteen five-pointed stars presented in an oval pattern; a fouled anchor fronted by a shield bearing stars and stripes; and a long straight ribbon banner; all of which are interlaced by a series of floral swirls and intricate patterned designs. The reverse is etched with four icons, including: a knotted rope with tassels at either end and interlaced with oak leaves; a ribbon banner inscribed "U.S.N."; a fouled anchor; and an eagle standing upon the stock of an anchor with emanating rays above the eagle; all of which are interlaced by a series of floral swirls and intricate patterned designs. The obverse ricasso is etched with a Damascus six-pointed star proof mark, with tri-leaf motifs placed between each of the star points, the reverse ricasso unmarked. The blade exhibits light surface wear, along with scratches at the non-fullered end, common to extraction and return to the scabbard, measuring 760 mm in length, with a brown leather washer with a black finished upper at its base and is firm in the hilt. The curved guard and crossguard are in bronze gilt, the crossguard with a voided design incorporating a ribbon banner inscribed "U S N" and interlaced with a cluster of oak leaves and acorns, with leafing on the adjoining guard, the quillon finished with a serpent's head. Another larger scaly serpent's head appears at the base of the guard where it butts the handle. The grip is in a white fishskin synthetic pebbled material and wrapped in thirteen rows of bronze gilt wire, each of which is flanked by rolled bronze gilt wire on either side, all of which is intact. The handle is wrapped with a cord in a multi-patterned fine gold-coloured bullion wire, the slider in rolled gold-coloured copper wire in a thatched pattern, the cord finished with a 84 mm long knot, the knot wrapped in fourteen vertical rows in fine gold-coloured bullion wire, each of which incorporates a multiple coil design, its top centre in four rows of blackened copper wire, with five rows of gold-coloured rolled copper wire at its base, its stem in gold-coloured rolled copper wire in a thatched pattern. The pommel illustrates a floral band design bearing a rose flanked by laurel leaves and berries on one side, with oak leaves and acorns on the other side, the protruding end of the pommel oval-shaped, featuring an eagle standing upon three rows of rope and surrounded by thirteen five-pointed stars, the sword measuring 905 mm in length. The accompanying scabbard with a magnetic steel body and a black patent leather wrap, the bronze gilt chape, central band and locket with a thin row(s) of trim in a saw-tooth pattern. The chape is finished in a snub-nosed style, however, the traditional u-shape features a raised scaly serpent that wraps itself around the end. The central band and locket incorporates a raised knotted rope design, each of which has a single suspension ring affixed, the central band stamped "5" on its reverse. The scabbard measures 780 mm in length, the black patent leather wrap with extensive loss in two locations that exposes the steel body and its prominent surface rust, the remaining wrap exhibiting crazing and wear, along with contact marks and gilt wear on the bronze gilt fixtures. The sword very fine, the scabbard fine.