Description
Originally manufactured by Widmann of Philadelphia in the late 1840s, this pattern was purchased by Horstmann in the early 1850s who marketed them as officer swords. This sword surfaced over 50 years ago from the home of an elderly black woman who used it for a fireplace poker! She knew no history other than it had been in the old home “forever.” The sword has a German blade, etched, which includes a US Federal shield with stars. It is likely a militia officer sword and has a very good chance of being Confederate and from the Civil War, but unfortunately the owner’s name is not known.
