Sword handles.

[MRB1863]

what's the story with yours?

The story that accompanied it when given to my father over 5 decades ago was that it was carried by "The Boyer Boys" from New Cumberland, PA who enlisted at Harrisburg. Once they returned from the war, the sword stayed in their family possession until being gifted to my father. IMHO some of this information is very vague and I would love to have a better foundation. I've attempted without succes to find a probable match in their name/location as of yet.

 

[Cavalier]

I feel like a kid oogling at the Sears Christmas catalog!

John

 

[Cavalier]

@MRB1863 One man's "plain" can also be another man's "classic understated elegance". I think your piece fits into the second category myself.

John

 

[MRB1863]

@MRB1863 One man's "plain" can also be another man's "classic understated elegance". I think your piece fits into the second category myself.

John

Because it was handed down in my Parents' will, it adds to the value it has to me.

 

[R. Porter]

Do these Boyers look familiar? If these are the Boyer Boys at least two of the three didn't spend a lot of time in service and none of them had a need for an eagle head saber. Maybe the Boyer Boys were from an earlier generation than the one that fought in the Civil War.

Daniel C Boyer
in the U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865

Name	Daniel C Boyer
Enlistment Age	24
Birth Date	abt 1838
Enlistment Date	15 Sep 1862
Enlistment Place	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Enlistment Rank	Corporal
Muster Date	15 Sep 1862
Muster Place	Pennsylvania
Muster Company	F
Muster Regiment	19th Infantry
Muster Regiment Type	Infantry
Muster Information	Enlisted
Muster Out Date	27 Sep 1862
Muster Out Place	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Muster Out Information	Mustered Out
Side of War	Union
Survived War?	Yes
Title	History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865; PA State Archives: Civil War Veterans' Card File 1861-1865
Daniel Boyer in the U.S., Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index, 1850-1880 Surname Daniel Boyer Year 1870 County Northumberland C State PA Age 31 Gender M (Male) Month of Death May State of Birth PA ID# 197_32504 Occupation RAILROAD WORKER Cause of Death RR ACCIDENT

Abraham A Boyer
in the U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865

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Detail Source

Name	Abraham A Boyer
Enlistment Age	22
Birth Date	1839
Enlistment Date	3 Sep 1861
Enlistment Place	Juniata County, Pennsylvania
Enlistment Rank	Private
Muster Date	24 Oct 1861
Muster Place	Pennsylvania
Muster Company	I
Muster Regiment	49th Infantry
Muster Regiment Type	Infantry
Muster Information	Enlisted
Rank Change Date	21 Oct 1865
Rank Change Rank	Corpl
Muster Out Date	6 Jun 1862
Muster Out Information	disch disability
Side of War	Union
Survived War?	Yes
Complexion	Light
Eye Color	Brown
Hair Color	Dark
Height	5 ft, 8 inches
Residence Place	Juniata County, Pennsylvania
Death Date	1908
Burial Place	Altoona, Pennsylvania
Cemetery	Oak Ridge Cemetery
Occupation	Brickmaker
Additional Notes 2	Muster 2 Date: 23 Feb 1864; Muster 2 Place: Pennsylvania; Muster 2 Unit: 2067; Muster 2 Company: C; Muster 2 Regiment: 3rd HA; Muster 2 Regiment Type: Artillery; Muster 2 Information: Enlisted; MusterOut 2 Date: 09 Nov 1865; MusterOut 2 Place: Fort Monroe, Virginia; MusterOut 2 Information: Mustered Out;
Title	History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865; Soldiers of Blair County, PA; PA State Archives: Civil War Veterans' Card File 1861-1865

Jacob Boyer
in the U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865

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Detail Source

Name	Jacob Boyer
Enlistment Date	30 Jun 1863
Enlistment Rank	Private
Muster Date	30 Jun 1863
Muster Place	Pennsylvania
Muster Company	E
Muster Regiment	54th Infantry
Muster Regiment Type	Infantry
Muster Information	Enlisted
Muster Out Date	17 Aug 1863
Muster Out Information	Mustered Out
Side of War	Union
Survived War?	Yes
Title	History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865

Jacob Boyer
in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Civil War Muster Rolls, 1860-1869
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Detail Source

Name	Jacob Boyer
Gender	Male
Age	29
Birth Year	abt 1832
Enlistment Date	30 Jun 1861-1866
Enlistment Place	Elderton, USA
Muster Date	2 Jul 1861-1866
Muster Place	Camp Howe, Pittsburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA
Rank	Private
Unit Type	Infantry
Regiment	54th Pennsylvania Militia
Company	E

Jacob Boyer
in the 1850 United States Federal Census
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Name	Jacob Boyer
Gender	Male
Race	White
Age	16
Birth Year	abt 1834
Birthplace	Pennsylvania
Home in 1850	East Pennsboro, Cumberland, Pennsylvania, USA
Attended School	Yes
Line Number	33
Dwelling Number	296
Family Number	296
Household Members (Name) Age​ John Bayer 34​ Elizabeth Bayer 34​ Jacob Boyer 16​ Daniel Boyer 14​ Abraham Boyer 12​ Mary A Boyer 10​ John Boyer 3​ Sarah J Boyer

J L Boyer
in the 1860 United States Federal Census
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Detail Source

Name	J L Boyer[I L Boyer]
Age	43
Birth Year	abt 1817
Gender	Male
Race	White
Birth Place	Pennsylvania
Home in 1860	Lower Allen, Cumberland, Pennsylvania
Post Office	Shiremanstown
Dwelling Number	1018
Family Number	1027
Occupation	Iron Master
Real Estate Value	15000
Personal Estate Value	5000
Inferred Spouse	E Boyer
Inferred Child	A H BoyerM J BoyerJ BoyerC I BoyerJ A BoyerF P BoyerW P Boyer
Household Members (Name) Age​ J L Boyer 43​ E Boyer 38​ A H Boyer 18​ M J Boyer J Boyer 13​ C I Boyer 9​ J A Boyer 6​ F P Boyer 4​ W P Boyer 6/12​ L Chrismas 45​

 

[Present Arms]

I collect artifacts from the War of 1812 like the eagle head swords because of their elegant American style. As the previous posts discuss, the eagle head motif persisted after 1815 so the challenge for me is to authenticate the most probable date of a sword's manufacture. The reference books are essential, and I take photos of swords with provenance such as those in museums that are associated with known owners in certain years. I keep the photos of the museum swords and pertinent book pages on my mini computer and refer to them when hunting at militaria shows. I also gather the old catalogs of House of Swords because most of those swords are fakes and are still on the market. Many swords have condition problems that can be corrected by a professional restorer.

 

[Patrick H]

It's beautiful. Bone or ivory handle?

 

[major bill]

It's beautiful. Bone or ivory handle?

Not sure. Governor Lewis Cass served in the War of 1812. I assume this sword was from when he was territorial governor It could also be a bit later.

 

[bayonet]

I collect artifacts from the War of 1812 like the eagle head swords because of their elegant American style. As the previous posts discuss, the eagle head motif persisted after 1815 so the challenge for me is to authenticate the most probable date of a sword's manufacture. The reference books are essential, and I take photos of swords with provenance such as those in museums that are associated with known owners in certain years. I keep the photos of the museum swords and pertinent book pages on my mini computer and refer to them when hunting at militaria shows. I also gather the old catalogs of House of Swords because most of those swords are fakes and are still on the market. Many swords have condition problems that can be corrected by a professional restorer.

Since you mentioned your specialty in Eagle Heads take a look at this and tell me what you think. It's supposed to be a Foot Officers sword by the configuration but could be a Staff & Field. The Scabbard and blade are not at question since there are examples of them in the book CIVIL WAR ARMY SWORDS. No pics showing this type Eagle Head. I guess with everyone jumping on the sword making business for Officers in the ACW this was a special order or just a swordsmith being creative.

 

[Present Arms]

There are many more people more expert in this field than I am. I did not find your sword in any of my references. There seems to be a lack of detail in the metal work of its hilt, which raises suspicions. The glimpse of scabbard suggests that the scabbard is highly embellished, but the degree of its detail is not visible. You can submit some photos to the American Swords LLC website for assessment. That site has a section about how to spot fakes. Sellers of militaria should not be taken at their word because they may be honestly mistaken about authenticity; or, they label everything as "War of 1812" or "Civil War" because such items are more desirable than those used between the wars or afterward. There is a surprisingly active industry of faking swords and other militaria. The House of Swords was notorious for elaborate fakes (Its proprietor was shot to death in a parking lot). Sometimes a fake is so well done that it is satisfying to own if its price is appropriate, and I keep more than one such fake.

 

[bayonet]

There are many more people more expert in this field than I am. I did not find your sword in any of my references. There seems to be a lack of detail in the metal work of its hilt, which raises suspicions. The glimpse of scabbard suggests that the scabbard is highly embellished, but the degree of its detail is not visible. You can submit some photos to the American Swords LLC website for assessment. That site has a section about how to spot fakes. Sellers of militaria should not be taken at their word because they may be honestly mistaken about authenticity; or, they label everything as "War of 1812" or "Civil War" because such items are more desirable than those used between the wars or afterward. There is a surprisingly active industry of faking swords and other militaria. The House of Swords was notorious for elaborate fakes (Its proprietor was shot to death in a parking lot). Sometimes a fake is so well done that it is satisfying to own if its price is appropriate, and I keep more than one such fake.

If you go here to the Edge Weapon forum I posted way more pics on Sept 15 under ID Officers Sword Type

 

[Present Arms]

If you go here to the Edge Weapon forum I posted way more pics on Sept 15 under ID Officers Sword Type

Your eagle is very close to the eagle on page 138 of Mowbray's American Eagle Pommel Sword 1794-1830. Mowbray describes the sword as French-made around 1803. The discussion of your original post indicates that your sword is a composite. Such "frankensteins" often rescue the best parts of several junk donors. Your original post says that you paid a fair price for such a sword that makes a nice wall display.