Pre-1807 Gilded “Ketland” Eagle Pommel Sabre Sword with Scabbard

Description

For your consideration is this beautifully intact Ketland sabre and scabbard from earlier on in this design’s production run. The double 5-ball hilt, grip material (either elephant or woolly mammoth ivory), the ridge at the top of the pommel, as well as the pommel’s overall level of fine detail all point to this as definitively pre-1807, possibly even as early as the 1780’s. They switched from ivory to bone as the material for the grip in 1807. Fire-gilded blade artwork is of excellent quality and state of preservation, and the original bluing remains clear, bright, and is about 85-90% intact down both sides. Incredibly, the 215+ year old leather scabbard is still very smooth and soft to the touch. It’s missing the chape but is otherwise in excellent condition. This thing wouldn’t be out of place in the Arms & Armor wing of the Met, and would be a highlight of any serious collection.