18TH CENTURY US INFANTRY HANGAR For Sale

S194H, A musketeer\'s short sword. Since the 1750\'s, the infantry soldier, regulars and officers carried side arms besides their trusty muskets. Soldiers carried a bayonet for the musket and a short sword, usually hanging from a shoulder strap (baldric) together on their left side (hence the name hangar.) Designs varied, but American militia officers often had their hangars fashioned by local blacksmith\'s and arms makers on the same, or similar patterns used by their British, or French contemporaries. This specimen sports a pattern which later, during the American Revolution and into the 1803 period and those of the War of 1812, evolved into the officers patterns for both infantry hangars, swords and cavalry sabers. The 23.5\" steel forged blade is straight and single edged, until about 6\" up from the point, when it becomes a dagger blade. The blood grooves on both sides run right into the hilt. The hammer forged hand guard forms a D guard of one piece forged steel that is ground and shaped of one piece of steel into the familiar US cruciform pattern. The grip retains it\'s wooden core and leather covering. The metal fittings are also steel. Overall length 28.5\", surface rust covers all metal surfaces, will clean up and may reveal engravings and/or maker\'s markings. Very few have survived and are today a key piece in any early American weapons collection. An expert in cleaning of weapons should be employed for maximum restoration. Very sound and very rare, all original and complete.