Horse Head Sabers are very rare.  Even at that, most of them were made for the English market.  This one not only has one of the most interesting hiltings I have ever seen, it was made for an American Officer, as witnessed by the Eagle and E. Pluribus Unum found etched and gold washed on the right side of the blade.  The blade on this sword is about 30 inches in length with an overall length of 35 inches.  Originally it was a tri-color blade but now retains only slight traces of the original blue.  The sword is right out of the woods and in untouched, attic condition.  The hilt is just gorgeous!  The horse head is finely crafted and gold washed.  The guard has a quillion which is a three toed paw with claws.  The back of the guard rises up and turns down in the form of an exaggerated swan's head.  The original chain hooks to the horse's mouth and the tip of the swan's beak.  The grip is checkered bone, bordered at the top, with minor chippage on one side.  The blade has a bubbly rust and would probably clean a little but I'll let you do that.  There is a picture of one of these swords, with discussion on page 106 of the book The American Sword by Harold L. Peterson.  The one pictured in his book is from the collection of the United States National Museum.  I cannot overstate either the rarity or the fineness with which this sword is hilted.  SOLD!