3092

Fine Unmarked Officer's Pattern Cavaly Confederate Saber

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:11,000.00 - 16,000.00 USD
Fine Unmarked Officer's Pattern Cavaly Confederate Saber
Buyer's Premium is 20.5% by credit card, reduced to 18% if payment is made by cash, check or wire transfer. Contact Rock Island Auction Company to complete your registration with the auction house.

Estimate: $11000 - 16000
Manufacturer: None Model: None
This saber appears to be a Confederate Officer's Saber manufactured by Thomas, Griswold & Co., of New Orleans during the Civil War. The saber has a slightly curved 35-inch flat-back blade with a single stopped fuller. The blade is 1 1/4-inch wide at the ricasso. The blade is undecorated and has no markings on the back or ricasso. The saber has a two branch brass guard and Phrygian helmet pommel. The brass guard and pommel have a distinctive color that is much darker than the brass used on regulation U.S. sabers. The grip is wood covered with plain leather and wrapped with plain twisted brass wire. The lower one-third of the knuckle guard branches are decorated with cast acanthus leaves. The top of the knuckle guard has a cast oak or acanthus leaf decoration with a rosette at the junction of the knuckle guard and pommel. Cast laurel or acanthus leaves circle the lower edge of the pommel and there is a relief cast floral design on the counter guard. Although the cast decorations on the hilt are nearly identical to those found on regulation U.S. Officer's Model 1840 Sabers, the quality of the casting is not as crisp as that on regulation pre-war or Civil War officer's sabers and there are minor imperfections in the brass. The only significant design deviations from the regulation U.S. officer's pattern decorations are the lack of a rosette where the laurel leaves join at the back of the pommel and the use of leather in place of the regulation ray or shark skin for the grip wrap. The saber is complete with an iron scabbard with iron suspension bands, rings and drag. The scabbard has no decoration and is very similar to a regulation Model 1840 scabbard with the exception of the drag which has a slightly different profile. A high quality cast saber hanger is attached to the lower suspension ring. The Model 1840 Officer's pattern swords manufactured by Thomas, Griswold & Company were very nearly identical to regulation U.S. Model 1840 Officer's sabers and also had a leather wrapped grip. Model 1840 Officer's pattern sabers were also manufactured by the Memphis Novelty Works and William J. McElroy of Macon, Georgia during the Civil War.
BBL:
Stock:
Gauge:
Finish:
Grips:
Serial Number:
Condition:
Fine. The saber has remains in untouched, 'attic' condition. The blade has a dark silver-gray patina with numerous patches of age discoloration and several minor nicks in the edge. The brass guard has a dark, nearly black patina. The outer branch is broken at the junction with the knuckle bow. The grip retains 20% of the leather cover. All of the twisted brass wire wrap remains intact. The scabbard has a deep untouched patina. There are several shallow dents in the scabbard body between the lower suspension band and the drag and a 1 1/2-inch break in the leading edge of the scabbard body just above the drag. The metal saber hanger has the same dark patina as the scabbard and hilt. This is a genuine Civil War Officer's Pattern Saber in attic condition that appears to be a legitimate Confederate saber.