Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is an outstanding Revolutionary War period officer’s sword used by a variety of branch officers during the period. This sword is identical to Captain Charles Alexander’s sword used by him during the Revolutionary War.  The sword is at the U.S. Naval Academy.  This pattern is often incorrectly identified as a 1790 - 1810 U.S. Army NCO pattern.  This came about for two reasons. First, Harold Petersen in his 1977 book describes it as such. However, it is only a guess on his part with no definitive information. Yet this has endured.  Second, the dating is because Lemuel Wells, a known maker of this pattern, first appears in the New York City directory in 1791. However, city directories are well known to be an unreliable source for dating an item.  In, “U.S. Naval Officers, Their Swords and Dirks,” by Peter Tuite on page 16 Alexander’s sword is shown along with another Naval Officers sword with a hilt of the same pattern.

We are confident in identifying this sword as a Revolutionary War period example, likely carried by an Officer of the Continental Navy or Continental Army.

The sword features a 28” curved blade with one small stamped marking on the spine, but no other markings we can find. The blade has past cleaning and some oxidation staining but has held up tremendously well for its age. It is a small bit loose to the hilt but is still solid. There is even a very small fragment of the original blade buffer.  

The hilt is of brass with a fluted ebony grip which has some minor cracking and loss of material to one side, and a “pillow pommel” which is undented. The overall length is 33 ⅛”.

The brass-mounted leather scabbard is in fair condition for its age. The brass throat is now disconnected, but it will still sit for display. The drag is still tight. There is heavy loss to the stitching and finish on both sides, normal for leather of this age. It is incredible that a scabbard from the Revolutionary War period could survive at all. It measures roughly 27 ¾”.

This is an outstanding example which is documented as having been carried by U.S. Naval officers during the Revolutionary War. Comes ready for further research and display!

Dimensions:-
Blade length: 28”
Overall length: 33 1/8”
Scabbard length: 27 ¾”