Magnificent Horse Head Pommel British Cavalry Officer's Saber with Historic Blade Inscription Dated 1803.

33 3/4" overall with 1 7/16" wide 29" curved blade. The blade is white etched with gilt decoration for 3/4 of its length. The top portion of the etching depicts the gilt coat of arms of Lieutenant General Daniel Seddon. Beneath in ribands is the family motto "Non Sono Sed Dono" and "Our Country". Further down the blade, bracketed top and bottom with arms panoplies and scroll work is another motto only partially visible, in ribands, with the last four panels clearly visible, "For The / Defence Of / Their Country / 25th Oct / 1803".
           
                        Careful examination will doubtless reveal the first few lines of the motto. The reverse of the blade incorporates the British Royal Arms with arms panoplies and scroll work and near the base "Osborns / Warranted" indicating the sword was made by H. Osborn of Birmingham and Pall Mall. Blade with some small scattered dark areas with some surface rust and very light pitting. Careful cleaning would upgrade it dramatically, but still very good in its current condition.

                      The massive hilt includes the most finely detailed open mouth horse head pommel with back strap we've ever seen. The horse's main extending half way down the backstrap. Heavy reverse P guard is faceted on the face and ends in a disc quillon. The shield shape langets each depict fierce lion heads. Finely checkered ivory grip with just one tiny chip at the top else perfect. The hilt retains 90% of the original gilt. Leather scabbard with heavy sheet brass gilt mounts, the top being 4 5/8", the middle 3 1/2" and the lower, incorporating a heavy brass drag, 10 1/4". Scabbard with two small holes between the top and middle mounts, else excellent. The brass mounts, with decorative brass cut outs and line decoration, retain about 70% of the original gilt with no dents. A magnificent and historic British mounted officer's saber of the Napoleonic period

For more info on Seddon's career please follow the link below

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