Presentation Sword, Inscribed "Major General E.W. Ripley U.S. Army"

Ripley, Eleazar W. · ca 1812

Sword: The blade of this presentation sword is long, straight, and single edged. The fuller is shallow and broad, and extends almost to the tip of the blade. Both sides are decorated in silver chasing. The obverse features an eagle holding an "E PLURIBUS / UNUM" banner surrounded by stars, flanked by floral sprays. The reverse is similar, but instead of an eagle there is a cluster of military trophies. The grip of the sword is four sided and fat. There is a row of gold flowers along the edges and a floral design on the obverse and the reverse. The pommel is a casting of an eagle's head. The knuckleguard is a flat strip of gold metal with floral designs cast on both sides and a medallion with and eagle on the obverse. The knuckleguard terminates in a quillon in the shape of a ram's head. The counterguard features a figure of a man (possibly Hercules?) fighting a lion.