estate sale purchase

SVanderkolff

SVanderkolff

Joined
Oct 31, 2002
Messages
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I recently picked up two swords from an estate sale. The first is 25 1/4" long and is marked N P Ames Springfield with an American eagle on one side of the blade and United States 1838 WS on the other. the blade has 3 fullers , 2 near the hilt and one longer one down the middle of the blade. The handle appears to be brass with scale like surface, three rivets and an eagle stamped on both sides of the pommel. This one I am pretty sure is a Heavy Artillery sword. Thats based solely on the pictures I can find on Google.
The second I am thinking is a french artillery sword from 1831. It is 24 3/4" long with a brass handle no fullers, the handle is grooved with concentric circles on the ends of the guard. The guard is stamped 495 on the blade you can just make out 183? which I am guessing is the date and the letters THIE very faintly in a semi circle above the date. On the opposite side is an oval stamp with a C and a star above it, very tiny.
I haven't decided if I should keep them or sell them, it depends on what they are worth. What is the best way to get an accurate appraisal of these swords?

I will provide pictures once I get them home and can get some decent ones.

Thanks
Steve
 
The first a model 1832 artillery sword, the other more properly listed as infantry.

The leaf blade diamond cross section blades with no fuller were introduced in 1831 for the infantry. However, many countries used and manufactured these, so better id may be of your benefit.

Ebay (sold listings) is really your best street guide. The French infantry glaive really worth a lot less than one might think, especially if there is no scabbard. The 1832 market is whimsical at times and I see fairly poor swords getting bid up in a frenzy and quite good swords sneaking past for a song.

Tom Nardi Restoration services has an old guide for American swords last updated in 2008 and that would still be pretty valid

Cheers

GC
 
It is hard to say where the best price might be fetched. With the 1832, it might be better sold by walking into a local arms show and selling to someone at a table. I would be hesitant to judge that sword by pictures alone and demand for them is there, so you might get a good price from the right buyer.

The French 1831 (if that is indeed what it is) has a pretty low wholesale value and they do scatter Ebay and eventually sell. Just a fer instance, I know where there are dealer listings for fairly clean "minty" ones with scabbards under $400. Still, the same way. Taking them to an arms show and someone may give you top street price (maybe a couple of hundred).

Cheers

GC

I wanted to add one more possibility and that is consignment with a dealer. While I have lists of dealers in the many dozens, there is one that comes to mind in Canada http://www.denner.ca/ He might take stuff on consignment and advise fair/good pricing. Basically, if it doesn't sell, it was priced to high.
 
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