Here is a cool piece that just came "out of the attic" still bearing dirt and old paint splatter.  The sword is a Model 1860 Ames cavalry sabre inspected by ADK (Andrew D. King.)  The last digit of the date is practically non-existent save for the very top of the number--either a 0 or a 3.  (Perhaps this is one of the batch sold to Virginia in 1860.)  Condition of the sword is good--all original and intact and typical "attic" appearance.  The scabbard is a Confederate arsenal product--possibly Haiman.  It has all the components--crudely cast brass mounts with iron rings, iron drag and throat, lapped-over seam running the length of the scabbard.  The sword is a little shorter than the scabbard but the fit is very good.  Sabre and scabbard exhibit matching condition and patina and I don't doubt that these were together during the war--probably arsenal re-issue from battlefield salvage or even a match done in the field by a Reb trooper.  Nice piece for a decent price.

The firm of Mansfield & Lamb of Forestdale, Rhode Island, was a successful manufacturer of scythes before the war.  In 1861 they were awarded a contract for 10, 000 sabres for the US cavalry.  By war's end, the company had produced and delivered over 37,500 Model 1860 light cavalry sabres to the Federal government.  Their swords were well-made with 35" blades, date and inspector's initials stamped on obverse ricasso,  maker's stamp on reverse ricasso, and sturdy steel scabbards.  This sword is a very nice example of a Mansfield & Lamb product.  Intact, no repairs, no abuse, 1864-dated, retains leather washer and one of its original carrying straps still attached for an added touch!

 

The firm of Emerson & Silver of Trenton, New Jersey, made US Model 1840 artillery sabres for the state of New Jersey. The quantity produced remains unknown and examples are rare. This unique product differed from the regulation Model 1840 artillery sabre in that it used the 1860 cavalry blade, but two inches shorter (32") and only the large fuller type. Consequently, the curve of the E&S artillery blade is shallower than the 1840 regulation. The scabbard is also noticeably different in that it is not as heavy as the 1860 cavalry scabbard that conforms to the blade. Overall, the E & S artillery sabre was a cheaper and less substantial weapon than the regulation type. "Emerson & Silver / Trenton, NJ" on the ricasso and "N.J / 1863" on the obverse. We presume this one saw service--a soldier cut a cross-hatch on both sides of the quillon. Beautiful condition!

Here is a pretty example of a Horstmann enlisted cavalry sabre Model 1840-Type 1. Blade length is 35 5/8" long, blade marking is "Horstmann / Phila" on two lines on the rverse ricasso. Other distinguishing characteristics of Type 1 are in evidence: 17 turns around the grip, unmarked and brazed seam scabbard with no screws, etc. The sword and scabbard are in very good condition except most of the twisted brass grip wire and blade's leather washer is missing. Leather is 100% intact and tight on grip, all parts are tight. Blade is nice.

For years these rare and unusual weapons were called "Potts bayonets." This was based on one specimen stamped "T.A. Potts / New Orleans / 1840." These markings are now believed to have been added later. The origin is still believed to be New Orleans, but the maker is unconfirmed. Likewise, their use as a bayonet has been deemed incorrect based on the unfinished interiors of the rings, the lack of a slot for gunsight, and absence of a locking device to affix to the barrel. Norm Flayderman, in his masterful study, "The Bowie Knife," noted that other Bowies exist with ring guards designed for affixing to a pole to serve as pike. The double- slanted rings of this model would provide tension against the pole and the unfinished interior of the rings would provide additional grip to the pole. The knife is well made: 12 7/16" blade with clip point and four-inch false edge, beautifully finished rosewood grips, brass guard, pommel, mounts, and rings. Scabbard is stitched on reverse with brass mounts. The tip of the blade has worn through the brass scabbard tip but everything is intact. It is also likely that this weapon was produced at the dawn of the war to provide a sassy "double-duty" weapon for state troops preparing for war.

When I first saw this piece I was confused by its combination of both finished and crude components. Further investigation has confirmed that it is a European-style hunting knife, probably German, of mid-19th century manufacture.  The knife is completely authentic-everything from its careful reenforcement at the guard to its leather-wrapped wooden scabbard was done at the time the knife was made. Brass brazing was employed along with small iron pins to connect the reenforcememnt section to the guard and to connect the guard to the pommel. Grip is stag. 16 7/8" blade length with overall of 21 7/8". The scabbard was pinned in the same manner that the reenforcement piece was pinned to the guard. This knife was made with a great deal of effort to render a usable weapon even though the construction is crude. Considering the blend of inventive craftmanship and fancy guard this weapon may well have been Confederate. It is too crude to have been European or Northern manufacture.  

Here is a classic D-guard Bowie made by Louis Froelich of Kenansville, North Carolina. 15 1/2" blade, 20 1/2" overall length. Scabbard is stiff leather with crude tin throat with soldered seam. Guard is one piece of iron. The Froelich Bowies were sturdy, simple, and well made, if somewhat crude. The only serious flaw seems to have been the attached belt loop which was too thin to support the weight. Most surviving examples are either broken at the loop or very stressed. Wonderful example of a classic Confederate made Bowie.

The Bowie knife was a uniquely American blade. Invented in the South and made famous by the legendary Alamo hero, Jim Bowie, this knife has gained more fame than any other knife in history. Over the decades following Bowie's demise in 1836 the Bowie took on a number of variations. One was the D-guard like the one shown here. This classic blade was both a weapon and a tool. One could chop cotton, brush, and firewood, butcher meat, or scare the Hell out of an opponent. This example was produced by Louis Froelich at his Confederate States Armory in Kenansville, NC, during the war. The knife is crude but very well made. This one was evidently in an old museum collection at one time. The grips had been painted with a thick black paint and the number "25" painted in white on one grip. Close examination reveals that the grips--on both sides--bore two notches. It seems that the paint was added in an attempt to fill in the notches and diminish the gruesome image such markings evoke. Blade is 15 7/8" long and overall length is 21". This fine example was in the collection of pioneer collector and author Edward N. Simmons and was part of his acclaimed study collection.

Few relics of the Civil War epitomize the dichotomy between medieval and technological, chivalrous and callous, North and South than the Confederate pike. (The blades were mounted on 8' and 10' poles and were formidable weapons in the Middle Ages, especially against mounted soldiers.) These antique, crude and useless weapons were produced in quantity at the start of the War and have come to symbolize the South's identification with the past. 19th century American pikes were manufactured in several styles and have been categorized by collectors in several principal types: John Brown, Winans, cloverleaf, retractable, Richmond, and bridle cutter chiefly among them. This example, a Georgia bridle cutter pike, was owned by Confederate collecting pioneer and author, Edward N. Simmons. The piece was very well made. The blade was fitted into the pole and reinforced with long wrought iron straps firmly affixed on either side of the pole. A brass collar held everything together at the top of the stout pole. Blade is 12 1/4" long, with pole 31 1/4" overall length. The section of the pole below the iron support straps was cut for ease in transporting--done by many early colectors--and the cut portion is missing. This pike is in excellent condition and serves as a classic example of the South's noble, but doomed, approach to warfare.

Here is a very nice unmarked Boyle & Gamble enlistedman's cavalry sabre in untouched condition. Blade is flat, grip and iron wire is intact, leather washer still remains, and overall condition is very good. The scabbard is metal with brass throat, drag, and ring mounts typical of CS-made scabbards. The brass shows evidence of crude casting also. However, overall production values are high, unlike many CS products. One of the rings is an iron replacement. The scabbard is also a little longer than usual for the blade length. Despite the excellent fit, the scabbard shows pitting beyond the nice condition of the blade which leads me to wonder if they were married later. If so, it was done long ago as the patinas of the brass on both parts are identical. In any case, this is a very fine example of a Confederate cavalry sabre by Boyle & Gamble of Richmond, Virginia. (The ornate brass hanger is common to fraternal swords of the era. This piece came with the hanger attached so I have left it the way I got it.) There are other examples of B & G cav sabres currently on the market in same or lesser condition for more money. This is a great piece at a good price!

Here is another great Confederate-made artifact with solid provenance, exceptional pedigree, and "star" status. This bayonet was manufactured in Richmond and was accompanied by a brass adapter to allow it to fit a variety of longarms. The adaptor is stamped "B. G. & M., Richmond, Va. Pat. Sept. 2, 1861" in tiny letters. The bottom of the crossguard contains the stamped two-digit number "89." The blade length is 20 5/8" with an unstopped fuller and brass guard. The scabbard is an Enfield model with metal throat and tip. The button bears a serial or rack number "324D" and is slightly longer than the bayonet. It is anyone's guess when the blade and scabbard were married but they were together when photographed for William A. Albaugh and Edward N. Simmons' monumental groundbreaking study "Confederate Arms" published in 1957. The distinctive repair of electrician's tape on the leather scabbard is clearly visible in the photo on page 123. In the photo a frog had been added for effect, but it didn't apparently go with the bayonet. The piece still bears Ed Simmons distinctive stickem number from his inventory, but we don't know if the piece was Albaugh's or Simmons' at the time the book was published. This is a wonderful relic with a fantastic provenance.

Thomas Griswold's products have long held a place in the lofty category of "most desirable Confederate edged weapons." The quality, distinctive characteristics, and identifiable maker's markings all contribute to the popularity of Griswold's edged weapons. This particular Griswold cavalry officer's sabre exhibits many of those aspects that collectors find so compelling: clear two-line maker stamping on reverse ricasso, manufacturing flaws evidenced in inferior brazing of brass parts, visible seams, cast parts revealing that worn out molds were used to make them (see close-ups of two-piece pommel cap,) traces of gilding in an effort to compensate for production flaws, hasty grip wrapping, etc. The scabbard is not the brass scabbard usually found with Griswold officer's sabres. This is a Confederate-made iron scabbard with crude lapped-over seam. The mounts, however, are all iron, not brass. The throat appears to have been canabalized from an imported model, and perhaps the mounts originated from the same source, as the patinas all match as they should. I don't know if this coupling was done during the war or after. The scabbard fits precisely as it should and the two have been together since the days when "marriages" of parts was unnecessary. This sabre bears Edward N. Simmons distinctive stickem label # 11. (Simmons was William A. Albaugh's co-author and close friend for decades.) Albaugh was the source for many of the pieces in Ed's legendary collection. All in all, a wonderful example of a fine-condition Griswold sword and Confederate scabbard from a world-class collection of one of the pioneers of CS edged weapons.

This is a wonderful Civil War relic with impeccable provenance and pedigree. This is the same cutlass that was pictured in Bill Albaugh's pioneer work "A Photographic Supplement of Confederate Swords" and was a prized piece in Mr. Albaugh's collection. Later, the relic became part of the collection of fellow pioneer collector and researcher, Edward N. Simmons (Albaugh's co-author and close friend.) The distinctive Simmons' inventory number "60" is still in place on the blade. The piece measures 24 7/8" long with brass grip and guard. The Letters "CSN" are cast on one side and the anchor motif is on the reverse. The piece was modeled after the Federal short artillery sword without the delicacies of execution common to that Ames product. The crude manufacture of this piece and its minor casting flaws proclaim its Southern heritage. The pommel cap contains two small Roman numeral X's scratched into each side during production presumably to correspond to a scabbard it was fitted to. The scars and stains are evident in the photos when it appeared in Albaugh's book over 40 years ago. Side views show the trace of the seam from putting the two guard halves together. This is an exquisite piece from the collection of the legendary pioneer of Confederate weapons, research, and authorship, William A. Albaugh III.

This is another in my growing inventory of seldom seen relics. This is a spear point from a Navy boarding pike and a wicked weapon it was! The point and iron shaft measures 18" long and 1 5/8" wide at ot its widest point. The spear itself is four-sided and the shaft attached via six holes punched through the iron. The forging was rather crude but it was thick and substantially made. Harking back to an earlier age this weapon was fearsome to behold when mounted on a sturdy pole.