Early WH Horstmann Spadroon Sword w/ FW Widmann Guard & Pommel ca.1848-55

Description

Here we have an unusual sword - a short, light spadroon marked WHHS (WH Horstmann & Sons) at the ricasso, but mounted in fixtures from the workshop of FW Widmann. Upon Widmann’s death in 1848, Horstmann & Sons acquired his workshop & everything in it, including the employees. Almost immediately, Horstmann started producing swords using the hilts, pommels, etc from that shop but with simple bone grips. Horstmann exhausted his supply of various Widmann sword parts sometime in the mid-1850’s, making these “Widmann-Horstmann Transition” swords quite scarce as they were only made for around 6 years or so. The guard/hilt on this is no doubt a Widmann design. I’m pretty sure the pommel is too, although I’m not 100% certain. Even the etchings on the blade have that understated, delicate Widmann touch. (He was known to make a few pieces for Horstmann to mark/stamp with his name to sell in his shop….) This is a very light, well-balanced sword that is several inches shorter than most other straight bladed swords of the same period, and is possibly a piquet-weight dress piece. The German-import blade on this is of excellent quality and remains strong, flexible and harmonious after roughly 170 years. A nice little piece of history.