15. Bu7alo Horn Sword Cane
Ca 1890 This classic sword cane features a substantial handle fashioned from a single piece of buffalo horn, showcasing a beautifully mottled surface. It bears a rich, dark tone subtly infused with greenish reflections, a characteristic hue associated with Siamese origin (modern-day Thailand). The handle is shaped in a classic, unadorned crook form ending in a pointed tip, offering both elegance and understated authority in the hand. A two-tiered silver collar crowns a short, time-worn medlar wood stem, seamlessly transitioning into a bamboo shaft that ends in a spiked metal ferrule. Discreetly fitted into the handle is a push-button release mechanism. When engaged, it reveals an impressive 26” square-cut foil blade. Slender and flexible, the blade is finely faceted and delicately jeweled, tapering to a lethal point, a hidden weapon of both refinement and resolve. While this cane remains a good example of late 19th-century ingenuity, it would benefit from some attention, particularly to the locking device, which has become loose with age. H. 6 ¾” x 4”, O.L. 35 ¼”
$500-$700
The design of sword cane blades exhibits considerable variation, reflecting both evolving metallurgical capabilities and shifting functional priorities. In earlier periods, limited metallurgy often necessitated blades with rounded points. Despite their shape, these were still capable of delivering effective thrusts. As steelmaking advanced, blades became narrower, stiffer, and more sharply pointed, improving both penetration and structural integrity. Broad blades frequently feature grooves known as fullers. Channels that reduce weight without sacrificing strength, while also enhancing stiffness through improved geometry. Narrower, thrust- oriented blades, by contrast, often employ a flattened diamond cross-section with a pronounced central ridge to achieve similar mechanical benefits. Many sword cane blades incorporate a blend of these techniques, resulting in versatile profiles suited to both cutting and thrusting. Blades designed exclusively for thrusting tend to have a triangular cross-section, optimized for rigidity and penetration, though they typically lack a functional cutting edge.While each blade type carries its own advantages and trade-offs, a well-conceived sword cane maintains a thoughtful balance between its blade and its outward form. Just as the hilt of a sword enables effective handling and control, the cane’s handle must be harmoniously matched to the blade it conceals, both aesthetically and functionally, to ensure proper hegemony in use; a subtle, but critical element for any serious collector to consider.
Continental Cane Collection Auction - 35
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