Eagle Sword Pommel

[SW_PA_Chad]

I found this near a hand pump well at a late 1800's built farm house. I scrubbed it with some baking soda and vinegar thinking it was a cane or flag topper. It was about 6 inches deep. After looking it over, it appears to be the pommel of a sword. Wondered if this looked genuine to the experts out there. I found some other coins and relics in the area. The oldest coin was a fatty indian. Unfortunately I couldn't find any more of the sword. Thanks for looking.

 

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[pepperj]

That is a top shelf relic recovery-really love things that are unique as this.
Congrats!

 

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[Red-Coat]

The distinguishing feature of an eagle sword pommel is the place where the knuckle bow connected under the beak of the eagle. Walking stick toppers will never have a hole there.

Your eagle sword pommel is German made, 1820-1840 period. I recommend the following books, one of which is specifically about eagle sword pommels:

E. Andrew Mowbray's Eagle Pommel Swords: the early years

and his son's work with Norm Flayderman: The Medicus Collection

Congrats, it’s a great find.

Thanks for the education and references. I'm convinced. That is indeed a great find.

 

[Tpmetal]

It would be great if this is a sword pommel, but I think it's from a walking cane.

The construction for attachment is the same as for horse hame knobs, with that spur projection and screw hole providing reinforcement against snapping of the wood to which it was attached. It was also a construction used for walking cane handles made in the form of horse hames, but those usually have a relatively plain knob or finial. Eagle-head cane handles more usually have a simple sleeve for attachment (or are threaded). I haven't seen a cane handle which combines both the eagle head and the hame-type attachment, but wouldn't doubt that they exist.

if you Google "horse hame knob" and "hame walking stick" you'll see where I'm coming from.

Also a thing that came to mind was the finials(not sure if thats proper term) for sleighs. They went on the front tips of the sleigh wood. Though usually the ones I have found by me are lead, not sure if brass was ever used on these?

 

[tamrock]

Whatever it was made for, it sure is a beautifully detailed casting of an eagles head. Definitely a find to be thrilled about.

 

[PickTime]

Congratulations on a unique find.

 

[SW_PA_Chad]

Also a thing that came to mind was the finials(not sure if thats proper term) for sleighs. They went on the front tips of the sleigh wood. Though usually the ones I have found by me are lead, not sure if brass was ever

Also a thing that came to mind was the finials(not sure if thats proper term) for sleighs. They went on the front tips of the sleigh wood. Though usually the ones I have found by me are lead, not sure if brass was ever used on these?

Thanks for all the replies. Here are a few pictures I have found around the web that show a complete sword. The piece I dug is a little twisted and bent on what I would call the back strap.

 

[CoinsAndThings]

Thanks for all the replies. Here are a few pictures I have found around the web that show a complete sword. The piece I dug is a little twisted and bent on what I would call the back strap.
View attachment 2049258 View attachment 2049262 View attachment 2049259

I get it now. It makes more sense to me now that I see the whole pommel
That is an amazing find you have.

 

[BLK HOLE]

Great Save

 

[callmez]

Thanks for all the replies. Here are a few pictures I have found around the web that show a complete sword. The piece I dug is a little twisted and bent on what I would call the back strap.
View attachment 2049258 View attachment 2049262

I want to say that this sword has a Ketland eagle, sometimes known as a Philadelphia type. Strikes me as a British made example. There are a bunch of nuances to be considered when identifying one of these swords. I hope you are able to get the book.

 

[SW_PA_Chad]

I want to say that this sword has a Ketland eagle, sometimes known as a Philadelphia type. Strikes me as a British made example. There are a bunch of nuances to be considered when identifying one of these swords. I hope you are able to get the book.

Thanks for the info. After doing some searching, I have to agree it looks like the Ketland examples I found online.

 

[dig deeper now]

I found this near a hand pump well at a late 1800's built farm house. I scrubbed it with some baking soda and vinegar thinking it was a cane or flag topper. It was about 6 inches deep. After looking it over, it appears to be the pommel of a sword. Wondered if this looked genuine to the experts out there. I found some other coins and relics in the area. The oldest coin was a fatty indian. Unfortunately I couldn't find any more of the sword. Thanks for looking.
View attachment 2049077

Could it be the top of a custom fancy cane, the top could fit in a man's palm.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Killer find - a real piece of history !

Here's a photo of a Eagle "Cane Handle" I found 9 years ago.

 

[kmk]

I found this near a hand pump well at a late 1800's built farm house. I scrubbed it with some baking soda and vinegar thinking it was a cane or flag topper. It was about 6 inches deep. After looking it over, it appears to be the pommel of a sword. Wondered if this looked genuine to the experts out there. I found some other coins and relics in the area. The oldest coin was a fatty indian. Unfortunately I couldn't find any more of the sword. Thanks for looking.
View attachment 2049077

Wow, what a find, I am sending you a pic or two of a piece I found 2 years ago with an extremely close resemblance to your eagle head. Very cool find!

 

[kmk]

Wow, what a find, I am sending you a pic or two of a piece I found 2 years ago with an extremely close resemblance to your eagle head. Very cool find!

 

[SW_PA_Chad]

That's a cool looking piece. Did you try posting it on the what is it section? Maybe someone will recognize it.

 

[kmk]

That's a cool looking piece. Did you try posting it on the what is it section? Maybe someone will recognize it.

I think it may be off of a cane? What struck me was the resemblance, to the detail of your find in the head area as well as the flat part on top of the head. My find is obviously smaller than yours and made for something entirely different, yours looks to be copper or a copper alloy and the detail of yours is a million times better than what I found.

 

[BuckleBoy]

I think it may be off of a cane? What struck me was the resemblance, to the detail of your find in the head area as well as the flat part on top of the head. My find is obviously smaller than yours and made for something entirely different, yours looks to be copper or a copper alloy and the detail of yours is a million times better than what I found.

Please read above in the replies where the item is correctly identified.