Eighteenth-century gentlemen wore small swords as part of formal civilian attire for social and ceremonial occasions. George Washington owned several of these jewel-like, lightweight weapons. This superbly crafted letter opener was adapted from a sword of Washington's which is depicted in Charles Willson Peale's 1772 portrait of Washington as a Virginia colonel. Washington is also believed to have worn that sword when he resigned his commission as commander in chief in Annapolis in 1783 and when inaugurated as our nation's first president on April 30, 1789. View the original

The metal 9" letter opener has a sterling silver finish and comes in a gift box lined with blue velvet fabric.

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