Sword w/scabbard: eagle on quillon

ca. 1899

andNew York, New York, United States, North America

Place madeFrance, Europe

Steel, brass, fish skin; steel, nickel, brass

Overall: 39 x 5 x 3 1/4 in. ( 99.1 x 12.7 x 8.3 cm )

Gift of Captain Kurtz Eppley

1933.126ab

According to the accession records, there was once attached to this sword a tag that read as follows: "Infantry sword / presented to Lt. Kurtz Eppley by / the Essex Troop, N.G.N.J. upon his / being commissioned 2nd Lt. 15 U.S. Infantry / Apr. 10, 1899 / This sword carried by him in / Cuba enroute to China / in Boxer Rebellion & in the Philippines / Islands in garrison until 1902 / when the saber was ordered / for all branches of the service for / officers / K. E. Mar. 25/33."

DescriptionSword with straight, double-edged steel blade with etching on obverse and reverse and diamond-shaped cross section; biloded brass counter-guard with molded eagle on obverse side and hinged section on reverse with inscription; quillon with lion mask finial; grip covered in fish skin and wrapped with wire; inverted cone-shaped pommel with plain shield on one side, eagle insignia on other side, and radial arrangment of leaves on top; nickeled steel scabbard with brass mounts consisting of an upper band with two rings, a middle band with one ring, and tip with drag.

Markingsstamped: on obverse of blade below hilt: "MADE IN FRANCE" stamped: on reverse of blade below hilt: "[RI]DABOCK & Co. / NEW-YORK" inside oval engraved: on reverse side of counter-guard: "Lieut. Kurtz Eppley U.S.A. / From His Comrades in Essex Troop."

ClassificationsMILITARY TOOLS & EQUIPMENT: SWORD