Very Rare US 18th C. CAPTAIN ISAAC PHILLIPS Naval Sword with Inscription & Research

Captain Isaac Phillips was appointed in 1798 to command the 20 gun sloop of war Baltimore during the Quasi War with France. On November 16, 1798, off Havana, a superior British squadron under Commodore John Loring on HMS Carnatic intercepted the vessel and forcibly impressed 55 American sailors. Outgunned and seeking to avoid total destruction of his ship and crew, Phillips surrendered his sword in protest. Loring returned the sidearm and 50 seamen before releasing the vessel. Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert summarily dismissed Phillips without court martial to defuse the international incident, leading Phillips to spend decades attempting to clear his military reputation. The sword: gilded single edged steel blade shows light surface darkening , scattered etching attenuation and rubbing while retaining clear celestial face and scroll motifs near the ricasso. Brass hilt assembly displays moderate tarnish, age patina and gilding loss along high contact edges, though the double shell guard and urn pommel remain structurally firm. Vertical fluting on the grip exhibits hand wear, with the two inset oval silver plates remaining fully legible and clearly hand engraved reading Isaac and Phillips. Leather scabbard shows creasing, mild surface flaking and brass mount tarnish. Full length 41.5 inches, blade length 34 inches.