Miscellaneous - Saddles, Spurs, Militaria, Western, Indian

This is an iron ax-head - without shaft - Indo-Persian in origin, middle to southern India; believed to date from the 1800s. Unusual hallmarks on right side; interesting double-step at shank and collar.
Ax head width from outside attaching poll to center of cutting blade edge is ~4-1/4"; blade cutting edge measures ~3-7/8" from tip to tip; from inner shank of ferrule to blade edge is ~2-3/4"; shaft ferrule/shank O.D. is ~1-3/8" wide, I.D. is ~1-1/8".
Good condition.

Knife display case from the old Keidel Drug Store, Fredericksburg, Texas, believed circa 1907-1939. Recent hand-written note inside stating origin.
Wood body with glass front. Front half of top tips upward to allow access for a display panel (missing from this case); rear swings open from top, rotating on an axis at the bottom rear for placing knife stock into numbered tin/wood rectangular bins. Label on inside reads, "UNIVERSAL POCKET KNIVES / Mfg. by Landers, Frary & Clark, New Britain, Conn., U.S.A". This labels also apppears to function as an inventory/re-order ledger.
Good condition considering age, but is becoming frail from time; wood appears to have been stained and does not appear to have had a "finish coat".
NOTE: Sold as is.

This is a Mexican Artillery/Grenadier NCO's or Gunner's Jacket (or tunic) dating from about the 1830s to about the 1870s. Gold (yellow) decorations in the design of grenades (aka flaming bombs) are affixed to the collar and tails (turn-backs) of the jacket. Blue body and lapels (breast-cover) with red collar, cuffs, and piping (designates artillery); breast-cover has 18 buttons, 9 on each side, silver and ~7/8" in diameter; four buttons on back straps, same style as front; three buttons on sleeves near cuffs on each side, ~5/8" in diameter.
Blue belt loops with red piping along the waist-line; solid red loops on the shoulders running front-to-back for attaching boards or epaulettes; this indicates to me an officer's jacket, commissioned or non-commissioned, but not a private (as a private's jacket would normally have straps running from neck-to-shoulder where-under accoutrement/equipment straps would run).
Jacket is lined but lining has been replaced at some later time.

The noted publication Cronica del Traje Militar en Mexico del Siglo XVI AL XX by Artes de Mexico, No. 102, Ano XV, 1968 shows similar jackets illustrated on pages 64-65. The jacket on page 64 is of a mounted artillery colonel with remarks "1875 Republica" with description (on page 65), "Artillery Colonel, 1875. This style of military uniform was introduced in 1869, after the restoration of the Republic. Of stern dignity, these models were patterned after the French fashion, continued in Mexican armed forces for more than 40 years." The unusual thing is a more closely designed jacket is illustrated on page 65 as "Figure B". On that page the jacket is illustrated but not described; however, it is included with other descriptions of illustrated uniforms as follows, "In 1839, Presidial Companies garrisoned forts along Texas and California. Fig. a, recalls the famous Cuera Dragoons; c, was the Presidial dress in California; d, is a recaptured deserter; e, an invalid." Figure "b" is not mentioned at all in the description but is clearly grouped with other dress/uniforms known circa 1839! I contend the jacket is from that period.
In the publication Arms and Uniforms - The Napoleonic Wars - Part 2 by Liliane and Fred Funcken on pages 115-116 in the section covering The Spanish Army, there is virtually an identical uniform illustrated on page 115 noted as 4 & 5 with description on page 116 under the heading "SPAIN INFANTRY (p.115)" and it states "4. Gunner (1808), 5. Gunner (1810)". These illustrated artillery "gunner's" uniforms clearly have the same jacket collar with gold "flaming bomb" on either side.
Very hard to find item in good condition. Some insect damage to the back-side of jacket (see images); liner has been replaced. Stand included.

This item must be paid in advance with certified funds - bank check or bank money order - no credit card payments will be accepted.
This item may actually show "OUT OF STOCK" if you are attempting to use the "SHOPPING CART" method of payment or ordering; these items must be ordered by e-mail or phone and - as stated previously - must be paid in advance via bank check or bank money order.

Militia or cadet sword believed circa mid-1800s. Wood grip wrapped in leather, bound with decorative brass wire, nickel-brass composition furniture. Hilt cross-guard displays a mustachioed soldier in a plumed helmet flanked by crossed gladius-style short artillery swords, each sword displaying a star in center of their cross-guards. believe this may be a Texas Military Academy sword, I just do not know which. Wide ~1-1/8" combat-worthy blade, ~26-1/2" in length, unfullered, raised medial rib, diamond-shaped in cross-section. Overall length is ~32-1/2". Unknown maker.
Hilt is fairly tight but missing some of the leather wrap; blade tip has been reshaped and sharpened, otherwise good condition.

Original Deck Log of the USS Cuyama - AO/AO-3 USS Cuyama, Fleet Oiler, January 1, 1918 to December 31, 1918. Click on image to the left for more details.
Good condition but is worn from use.