online catalog

• What's New
• Reduced Price Items
• Artillery
• Books
• Bottles
• Buttons
• Confederate
• Contemporary Artist Prints
  • Framed Prints
  • Unframed Prints
• Currency, Bonds & Tokens
• Documents & Paper Goods
  • Art
  • Broadsides
  • Commissions
  • Discharges
  • Letters
  • Newspapers
  • Signatures
• Edged Weapons
  • Bayonets
  • Knives
  • Scabbards
  • Swords
• Firearms
  • Carbines
  • Cartridges & Gun Tools
  • Handguns
  • Holsters
  • Longarms
• Gettysburg Items
• Identified Items
  • Accoutrements
  • Edged Weapons
  • Firearms
  • Personal Items
  • Photography
  • Uniforms & Cloth
• Medical Items
• Military Accoutrements
  • Buckles/Plates
  • Canteens
  • Insignia & Badges
  • Leather
    • Belts
    • Cap & Cartridge Boxes
    • Haversacks / Knapsacks
    • Holsters
    • Scabbards
  • Spurs
• Personal Items
  • Amusements
  • Cooking
  • Jewelry
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Sewing
  • Smoking
  • Writing
• Photography
  • Albumens
  • Albums
  • Cabinet Cards
  • CDVs
    • Identified CDVs
    • Unidentified CDVs
  • Hard Images
    • Ambrotypes
    • Daguerreotypes
    • Tintypes
  • Stereoviews
• Relics
• Stock Items
  • Books
  • Clothing
  • Riker Cases
  • Shell Bases
  • Wood Display Cases
• Uniforms & Cloth
  • Flags
  • Headgear
  • Sashes & Hat Cords
  • Uniforms
• Veteran Memorabilia
  • GAR
  • UCV
• WWI / WWII
  • Equipment
  • Posters

HANDSOME INSCRIBED MODEL 1850 STAFF AND FIELD OFFICER'S SWORD IN EXCELLENT CONDITION - ALBERT G. NEWSON, 193RD NEW YORK INFANTRY

Zoom In Zoom Out Reset

Here is a very handsome and inscribed, original Model 1850 Officer's Staff and Field imported sword complete with its original metal scabbard. On the scabbard mount of this Civil War edged weapon is a jeweler-inscription to Lieutenant Albert G. Newson of the 193rd New York Volunteer Infantry. A mystery surrounds soldier Albert Newson as he enlisted as a private in the regiment on March 13, 1865, was promoted to Sergeant two days later on March 15 and was subsequently discharged with his regiment on June 6, 1865. Cursory research of Civil War records on Newsom holding the officer rank has not been found at present. He possibly served with the army in the West to attain the rank and the sword, we don't know.

Though no maker's mark is present on the blade, this sword specimen appears to have been imported to the States from Europe, most likely from Solingen, Prussia. These type swords were typical of those weapons carried by many higher-ranking Federal officers and their staffs during the Civil War. In its metal scabbard, the edged weapon measures a total length of almost 39" from tip to pommel. The handsome, quality steel blade is 32" long with a 15" narrow fuller and a 22" wide stopped fuller. Via the acid etching process, the obverse of the blade is embellished with floral and military motifs that exhibit a large shield device surrounded with a panoply of arms such as cannon, drums, arrows and backed with a large unfurled Stars & Stripes. Reverse flat of blade shows a floral motif that flanks two, large, beautifully etched script letters of "U. S.". Marked on the blade's rounded back near the ricasso are the numerals '60' followed by letters that appear to represent the word "IRON PROOF". The pleasing looking blade wears a dark gray, satin-like sheen overall and has scattered age spotting and pinprick rust pitting mostly near the point. Blade appears to have been cleaned at one time and shows a slight bend to the left at the end of the wide fuller.

This sword specimen has a finely cast, detailed, two-band, brass hilt with the guard and knucklebow cast in one piece. Both hilt lines have an intricate, foliate cutout design with the top or upper band showing off wonderfully cast letters, ¾" high "U S" flanked by anthacus leaves while the lower band displays just the floral design. The unusual back-swelled handle is a grip of ornate designed, ribbed sheet brass exhibiting ten raised left-twists, with each twist flanked by a thinly stamped, brass double wire-wrap. Every other twist is decorated with delicate in-line, overlapping fish scales that show normal use and wear. Phrygian pommel cap exhibits a finely cast border with an oak leave floral pattern. Brass ribbed handle is slightly loose between the pommel and the hilt. Quillon is markedly bent forward and down, probably executed by the soldier. Missing is the leather blade washer at the ricasso.

The fine, very dark (black) colored, smooth undented steel scabbard is adorned with two brass bands, brass drag, and brass throat. Scabbard surface wears light scattered pinprick pockmarks. Each of the brass mounts exhibits a very ornate engraved design of a checkerboard pattern surrounded with floral leaves. The upper mount, which is slightly loose also shows a handsome and delicate engraved "US" intertwined with oak leaves. On the opposite side of the upper mount is inscribed "Leieut. A.G Newson / Co. E 193 Regt / N.Y. Vol". The 6" long brass drag is profusely engraved with both symmetrical and floral designs. Drag tip is tight and smooth but heavily worn down from field use to a pronounced angle. Drag is missing its small brass setscrew. Both sword bands retain their small screws. All brass furniture appears to have been cleaned at one time.

Fine, original Model 1850 Staff and Field edged weapons are increasingly difficult to find in the collecting field today and this handsome, inscribed specimen is surely an enhancements to any edged weapon collection.