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U.S. MODEL 1872 ARTILLERY OFFICER'S HIGH GRADE PR

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
U.S. MODEL 1872 ARTILLERY OFFICER'S HIGH GRADE PR
U.S. MODEL 1872 ARTILLERY OFFICER'S HIGH GRADE PRESENTATION SWORD-TO THE GATLING PLATOON, MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIA. Very high grade late-19th C. officer's sword, which is of historical importance being presented to an officer of a Gatling Platoon" in one of the very few militia Gatling Gun batteries of the late 19th C. Sword is complete with its original doeskin cover and is a regulation U.S. Model 1872 Artillery Officer's sword, in presentation grade, with a 32" curved, sgl edged blade with profuse etching and a presentation which reads: "Lieut. N.B. Dennett" in Old English script amidst high-grade floral and military trophy designs. Opposite side has "Batt. C, M.V.M." etched among similar designs. Blade is signed by its maker "Bent & Bush/Boston, Mass." near the bottom of its unstopped, wide fuller in an etched panel. Sgl knuckle bow with cast floral decoration is of gold plated brass. Grip is of wood, covered in sharkskin and wrapped in triple strand twisted wire. Scabbard is of nickel-plated steel with cast brass and gold washed mounts consisting of a throat, two carrying rings and an attached fancy drag. Between the two scabbard mounts is an additional presentation reading: "Presented to/Lieut. H.B. Dennett/by the Gatling Platoon, Battery/C M.V.M./Aug. 26, 1887". CONDITION: Sword is in magnificent condition, is almost flawless and appears almost as if it is new. Gold-plating is near 100% intact; all etching and orig factory finishes are bright. Doeskin cover has some light soiling. This is an historic late 19th C. officer's sword. There are very few artifacts on the market directly connecting to the use of Gatling's repeating gun. This sword probably belonged to the 1st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia-one of America's only heavy and light artillery units during this time period. A history of this regiment was published: Frye, Col. James A., The First Regiment Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. (Boston: The Colonial Company, 1899). It is known that this Massachusetts militia regiment maintained a heavy artillery unit for coastal defense and also had a Gatling gun unit. More research on this officer is needed. This sword is one of the finest examples of a post Civil War artillery officer's swords I have ever seen. 4-57198 CW120 (6,000-8,000)"