RARE MODEL 1814 N. Starr AMERICAN CAVALRY OFFICER SABER.

RARE MODEL 1814 N. Starr AMERICAN CAVALRY OFFICER SABER. You are bidding on one of the rarest regulation American pattern swords known. Nathan Starr was contracted to build only 31 of this pattern and no more than 2 or 3 are known to this cataloger. Harold Peterson, in his treatise on American swords,”The American Sword,” states, “Between August 3 and November 26, 1814, Nathan Starr delivered thirty-one silver plated officers’ sabers to the Commissary General of Purchases. These swords were made at the behest of officers who wanted sabers of the same general pattern as their men but of a better quality. They cost twenty dollars as opposed to eight dollars for the standard saber, and the Commissary General was reimbursed for the extra cost by the men who received them. The saber illustrated is indeed one of these very rare and special arms.. In all respects except the silver plating, the checkering of the grips and the decorative bands on the scabbard, it resembles exactly the regular issue saber made by Starr under contracts of 1812 and 1813. Since these swords were white mounted, they would also have been appropriate for field officers of infantry. “The heavy curved blade is single-edged with a clipped point and a false edge that extends back about six inches. It is stamped “N STARR” with four dots underneath on the obverse side near the hilt and “P” on the back. The grips are wood highly finished and checkered with a small pinwheel figure incised in the center of each lozenge formed by the checkering. All the metal parts of the hilt are made of iron covered with a plating of silver. These consist of a ferrule at the base of the grips; a backstrap which surmounts the grips and expands to form a cover for the rounded pommel; a knuckle-bow of the reverse P form which is pierced near the pommel for a sword knot; and a quillon which terminates above the blade in a disc. The tang of the blade is secured at the pommel by a small round nut. The scabbard is of iron, japanned black. There are two rings for suspension slings, and each of these is attached to the scabbard by bands of Sheffield plate embossed with the so-called Wall of Troy motif. There is a rudimentary drag at the tip.” This sword has been in the collections of Norm Flayderman and Donald Tharpe. SIZE: 35-1/2″ blade. PROVENANCE: Norm Flayderman and Donald Tharpe, Charles Radcliffe Collection. CONDITION: Blade is 35-1/2″ long, gray with scattered pitting and old cleaning. “N STARR” marking is well-struck. Checkered wood grip is very good with a 1/8″ x 3/8″ chip at backstrap. Sheffield plate is 95% plus complete and very good overall. Silver scabbard mounts and throat are very good overall and cleaned. Scabbard body shows light pitting under black japanning. Overall the sword is in very good condition with cleaning and and minor restoration. 4-39652 JS23 (12,000-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

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
	2402	$10,350.00	RARE MODEL 1814 N. Starr AMERICAN CAVALRY OFFICER SABER. You are bidding on one of the rarest regulation American pattern swords known. Nathan Starr was contracted to build only 31 of this pattern and no more than 2 or 3 are known to this cataloger. Harold Peterson, in his treatise on American swords,”The American Sword,” states, “Between August 3 and November 26, 1814, Nathan Starr delivered thirty-one silver plated officers’ sabers to the Commissary General of Purchases. These swords were made at the behest of officers who wanted sabers of the same general pattern as their men but of a better quality. They cost twenty dollars as opposed to eight dollars for the standard saber, and the Commissary General was reimbursed for the extra cost by the men who received them. The saber illustrated is indeed one of these very rare and special arms.. In all respects except the silver plating, the checkering of the grips and the decorative bands on the scabbard, it resembles exactly the regular issue saber made by Starr under contracts of 1812 and 1813. Since these swords were white mounted, they would also have been appropriate for field officers of infantry. “The heavy curved blade is single-edged with a clipped point and a false edge that extends back about six inches. It is stamped “N STARR” with four dots underneath on the obverse side near the hilt and “P” on the back. The grips are wood highly finished and checkered with a small pinwheel figure incised in the center of each lozenge formed by the checkering. All the metal parts of the hilt are made of iron covered with a plating of silver. These consist of a ferrule at the base of the grips; a backstrap which surmounts the grips and expands to form a cover for the rounded pommel; a knuckle-bow of the reverse P form which is pierced near the pommel for a sword knot; and a quillon which terminates above the blade in a disc. The tang of the blade is secured at the pommel by a small round nut. The scabbard is of iron, japanned black. There are two rings for suspension slings, and each of these is attached to the scabbard by bands of Sheffield plate embossed with the so-called Wall of Troy motif. There is a rudimentary drag at the tip.” This sword has been in the collections of Norm Flayderman and Donald Tharpe. SIZE: 35-1/2″ blade. PROVENANCE: Norm Flayderman and Donald Tharpe, Charles Radcliffe Collection. CONDITION: Blade is 35-1/2″ long, gray with scattered pitting and old cleaning. “N STARR” marking is well-struck. Checkered wood grip is very good with a 1/8″ x 3/8″ chip at backstrap. Sheffield plate is 95% plus complete and very good overall. Silver scabbard mounts and throat are very good overall and cleaned. Scabbard body shows light pitting under black japanning. Overall the sword is in very good condition with cleaning and and minor restoration. 4-39652 JS23 (12,000-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 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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