Here, in wonderful condition, is an original French-made, high-grade infantry officer’s presentation sword complete with its matching leather scabbard. The high quality edged weapon was a gift to thirty-two year old Davis J. Rich of Champlain, a small township in Clinton County, New York. In late May, 1861, the Vermont-born Rich, a lawyer by profession, turned soldier and mustered in at Albany, NY as the Captain of Company “D”, 34^th New York Volunteers for two years.  The regiment known as the “Herkimer Regiment” consisted of volunteers who were the first to go to war from Herkimer County. Rich had a checkered military career. He served with the hard fought regiment in a number of its 1862 battles from Yorktown through Fredericksburg but he was also court-martialed and dismissed from the army in May 1862, reasons not stated. Later, on 18 October 1862, Rich was mustered in for service into Company “I”, 153^rd New York Volunteers at Fonda, NY for a period three years.  One year later, on 20 November 1863, Rich resigned his commission and was honorably discharged.

Captain Rich’s imported presentation sword is a straight, single-edged blade with a slightly rounded back and measures 36” long, including the grips.  The 30½” long steel blade exhibits a wide unstopped fuller 29¼” long, and a 29¼” long narrow fuller.  Both fullers extend to within ½” of the blade tip.  Blade is in excellent condition with both the reverse and obverse flats showing profuse and decorative floral etchings that extend for 20” from the ricasso. Progressing from the obverse ricasso upward, the sword exhibits two small, French-made oval stamps (a.k.a. proof or inspector marks) are partially obscured by the leather washer at the hilt. Blade is a dusky light gray with semi-bright sheen exhibited.  The blade back mark, together with its proof marks, shows the weapon to be circa 1845-1850s from the Klingenthal Armory in the French province of Alsace.  The difficult to read inscription in French on the blade back reflects… “Mfre du Klingenthal Coulaux & Cie”. The handsome blade shows no rust but has spots of dark oxidation and one large edge nick 14½” from the tip. The robust, cast brass hilt is ornately embellished with fine delicate casting.  Guard shell displays a large cast, curved, high relief spreadwinged eagle surrounded with a panoply of oak leaves and flags. Reverse side of hilt has a collapsible shell. The weapon displays grips of white shark skin over a grooved, center-swelled wooden handle.  Handle is wrapped with a twisted, brass / copper dragoon wire with flanking untwisted brass / copper wire. Cast brass guard, knucklebow, quillon and pommel each bear an ornate foliate design and are well executed. Hilt is slightly loose to the sword. The ornate, brass cast pommel bears a grotesque mask as part of the top strap with a domed cap of laurel leaves.

Leather scabbard is complete in good overall condition but does show major flaking to the entire body and a major stress break / crease 13” from the tip that has been repaired.  Leather also appears to have been treated with a sealant or protectorate material. All brass stamped furniture is highly detailed, including the upper and lower bands and the drag.   The presentation is on the upper band beneath the throat collar reads “Presented to / Capt. D. J. Rich / by Co. D 34th Regt  NY Vol / as a token of the regard for him / as an Officer & Gentleman / January 1862.”

The soldier’s records from the National Archives accompany this weapon, as well as other related documents that pertain to Rich. If one seeks an original, high-quality, identified officer’s sword, this high-grade specimen will fit the bill.