RARE SIGNED WAR OF 1812 ERA AMERICAN SILVER-HILTED HELMET POMMEL OFFICER’S SWORD.

RARE SIGNED WAR OF 1812 ERA AMERICAN SILVER-HILTED HELMET POMMEL OFFICER’S SWORD. This wonderful sword fresh to market and just recently found in Philadelphia estate is signed “I. KUCHER” in a 5/8″ cartouche on knuckle bow. Jacob Kucher was a well-known Philadelphia silversmith known for his helmet pommeled swords. Most swords by Kucher are unmarked but we know his work by his distinctive helmets. There are several known examples in the John Lattimer collection and several are pictured in Daniel Hartzler’s “Silver Mounted Swords Featuring Silver Hilts Through the Golden Age“. One example of a Kucher helmet pommel is shown on the cover of this book. This sword is in very fine “as found” condition with a 31″ blade with 9″ etched panel on each side which read “NO ME SAQVES SIN RASON NO ME ENBAINES SIN HONOR” which translates “DO NOT DRAW ME WITHOUT REASON DO NOT SHEATH ME WITHOUT HONOR”. The 6-1/4″ hilt stirrup shaped silver hilt has 5″ crossguard and the distinctive plumed helmet which is 2-3/4″ tall. The knuckle bow is about 1/4″ wide where it enters pommel flaring to 7/8″ and tapering back down to about 1/4″ where it is touch marked before forming crossguard. A spirally cut ivory grip rests on crossguard with 1/4″ silver bbl. The accompanying silver mounted tooled leather scabbard appears identical to a Kucher sword shown in Hartzler’s book on p. 296. Scabbards on these early American silver hilts are rarely found. This is a fine example of a unique patterned silver hilted officer’s sword and possibly the only one to have ever come to public auction. This sword has been photographed by Mr. Hartzler for his upcoming expanded text on American silver hilted swords. CONDITION: Sword overall is very good to fine. Silver hilt exhibits dark uncleaned silver patina. Cartouche is bright and easily discerned as can be seen in photos. Silver knights head pommel overall is very good, well detailed as seen in pictures. There is only one small dent in back as can be seen in photos. So often these hollow silver cast pommels are badly dented and often crushed and have to be restored. Ivory grip sound and solid with a couple hairline age cracks and old chipping about 1/2″ on top of grip on left side adjacent to pommel. Blade overall is gray with scattered areas of staining and light pitting near tip. Etched markings are crisp and easily discerned as can be seen in pictures. Scabbard is solid but dry with flaking to about 50% of surface. Scabbard is black overall where dyed. Scabbard is missing about 4″ at end including drag. The silver metal mount is fine still retaining its 1/2″ split ring. Top mount also retains its 1/2″ split ring though an apparent scalloped extention on obverse of throat is broken and missing. 8-76326 JS51 (4,500-7,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2030	$6,900.00	RARE SIGNED WAR OF 1812 ERA AMERICAN SILVER-HILTED HELMET POMMEL OFFICER’S SWORD. This wonderful sword fresh to market and just recently found in Philadelphia estate is signed “I. KUCHER” in a 5/8″ cartouche on knuckle bow. Jacob Kucher was a well-known Philadelphia silversmith known for his helmet pommeled swords. Most swords by Kucher are unmarked but we know his work by his distinctive helmets. There are several known examples in the John Lattimer collection and several are pictured in Daniel Hartzler’s “Silver Mounted Swords Featuring Silver Hilts Through the Golden Age“. One example of a Kucher helmet pommel is shown on the cover of this book. This sword is in very fine “as found” condition with a 31″ blade with 9″ etched panel on each side which read “NO ME SAQVES SIN RASON NO ME ENBAINES SIN HONOR” which translates “DO NOT DRAW ME WITHOUT REASON DO NOT SHEATH ME WITHOUT HONOR”. The 6-1/4″ hilt stirrup shaped silver hilt has 5″ crossguard and the distinctive plumed helmet which is 2-3/4″ tall. The knuckle bow is about 1/4″ wide where it enters pommel flaring to 7/8″ and tapering back down to about 1/4″ where it is touch marked before forming crossguard. A spirally cut ivory grip rests on crossguard with 1/4″ silver bbl. The accompanying silver mounted tooled leather scabbard appears identical to a Kucher sword shown in Hartzler’s book on p. 296. Scabbards on these early American silver hilts are rarely found. This is a fine example of a unique patterned silver hilted officer’s sword and possibly the only one to have ever come to public auction. This sword has been photographed by Mr. Hartzler for his upcoming expanded text on American silver hilted swords. CONDITION: Sword overall is very good to fine. Silver hilt exhibits dark uncleaned silver patina. Cartouche is bright and easily discerned as can be seen in photos. Silver knights head pommel overall is very good, well detailed as seen in pictures. There is only one small dent in back as can be seen in photos. So often these hollow silver cast pommels are badly dented and often crushed and have to be restored. Ivory grip sound and solid with a couple hairline age cracks and old chipping about 1/2″ on top of grip on left side adjacent to pommel. Blade overall is gray with scattered areas of staining and light pitting near tip. Etched markings are crisp and easily discerned as can be seen in pictures. Scabbard is solid but dry with flaking to about 50% of surface. Scabbard is black overall where dyed. Scabbard is missing about 4″ at end including drag. The silver metal mount is fine still retaining its 1/2″ split ring. Top mount also retains its 1/2″ split ring though an apparent scalloped extention on obverse of throat is broken and missing. 8-76326 JS51 (4,500-7,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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