PRESENTATION SWORD OF MAJOR, AND LATER GENERAL LEMAN W. BRADLEY BY THE 64TH NEW YORK. As a weapon of high embellishment, this is without doubt, the highest grade sword we have ever offered due to the many features that it encompasses. Tiffany made a number of spectacular swords but perhaps the most intriguing, desirable and most sought after is the cannon-hilt or cannon-barrel gripped sword. There are only 4 known to exist, with all 4 being presented to Officers that attained the minimum rank of Brig. General. This exact sword can be found on page 522 and 523 of Civil War Army Swords by John Thilmann for additional details. From the hilt, one can see the care that went into sculpting a three dimensional cannon barrel in scale, of solid silver. Note also that at the base of the barrel and forming a ferrule are 6 cannon balls, a wonderful design. The pommel is a beautifully formed and lifelike eagle standing on a cannon ball as well. The ribbon in its beak falls onto the knuckle bow and drapes it. The knuckle bow is a draped laurel with Medusa's face at the center. The counter guard is a spectacular relief cast set of flags and drapes with a US Shield superimposed upon the whole—all gilt in polished and frosted gold. The blade is John Orr etched. The scabbard is sterling silver with beautiful large mounts, all gilt. The mounts are of allegorical twisted lightening bolts also found on the knuckle bow of the Model 1860 Staff sword and on Roman Legionaries shields. The drag is relief cast with a cannon as the motif. The condition of the entire sword is "near mint". It is difficult to describe how impressive this sword looks in person. It is massive and appears as a high-art piece of the finest Tiffany Jewelry. All in all, this is a breathtaking and wonderful sword and it should reside in one of the finest American Arms collections as it simply cannot be improved upon! Major Bradley was mustered in as a First Lieutenant and rose to the rank of Colonel throughout the war, being brevetted Brig. Gen. in 1865. He had a spectacular history including being wounded twice, first at Fair Oaks in 1862 and then again at Spottsylvania in 1863. Major Bradley took over the regiment at Gettysburg when the Colonel was wounded and commanded the regiment until he was mustered out in October of 1864. ONE OF THE FINEST TIFFANY SWORDS EVER DISCOVERED, THIS SWORD IS FROM THE RICHARD JOHNSON COLLECTION. PLEASE NOTE; I am interested in acquiring presentation grade Tiffany Civil War Swords such as this one. If you own or know of a deluxe presentation sword such as this, please feel free to contact me at 216-541-4111, 11AM - 9PM Eastern Time.
