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CLASSIC CONFEDERATE ENLISTED CAVALRY SABER WITH WOOD SCABBARD BY KRAFT, GOLDSCHMIDT AND KRAFT OR HAMMOND MARSHALL

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This is a very strong example of the classic Confederate cavalry saber with wood scabbard identified by Albaugh in 1963 as a product of Kraft, Goldschmidt and Kraft of Columbia, SC. Some collectors refer to it as a product of Hammond Marshall & Co. of Atlanta, who had an 1862 CS contract for 3,000 cavalry sabers, but the pendulum seems to have swung back in favor of Kraft, Goldschmidt and Kraft. The sword measures 42-1/2” overall with a 36-1/2” blade. The hilt follows the general design of the US M1860 saber with domed, brimmed pommel with knuckle bow and two side branches joining the counterguard, but uses a grip more akin to the M1840, lacking a central swell, but expanding slightly toward the guard, but also using a brass ferrule, unlike those federal patterns. The grooved wood grip is missing the leather wrap, but has a very pretty reddish-brown color, glossy on the surface from handling, and the characteristic single-strand iron wire binding is in place, standing a bit above the wood from the absent leather, but all there. The blade pad on the underside of the guard is gone. The blade, however, is very good, showing smooth metal, silver gray in color with a few darker gray age spots, no pitting, with good edge and spearpoint typical of this pattern, also showing its typical unstopped, shallow fuller.

The wood scabbard, typical of this saber pattern, is complete and is in very good condition as well. These are made of two mortised wood slats held together by pins and by tinned iron scabbard mounts. The latter use a flat brass throat, brass ring bands and blade for the drag, and were painted black while the scabbard was given a red varnish. The wood shows only some minor rubs and scratches, but no chips, cracks or breaks, and retains most all of its original red varnish finish, which shows as warm, red or orange-brown. The scabbard mounts are complete- the upper mount having a flat throat, both upper and middle mounts with raised ring bands and carrying rings, and the drag with blade. They retain most of their original black paint, showing wear mainly on the top of the brass throat and on the raised ring bands, all of which have a pleasing, aged brass patina.

The scabbard construction is a tribute to Confederate ingenuity in the face of material shortages, but the naturally loose tolerances for the blades also makes them perfect for use on swords by different makers. The same pattern shows up on sabers made by B. Douglas of Columbia, leading to the supposition that they were supplied to both Douglas and K. G. & K. by a local maker or that that one sword maker supplied the other. A strong candidate, however, is the firm of Lewis L. and T.R. Moore (possibly in Atlanta,) who supplied 556 wooden saber scabbards to the CS Arsenal at Charleston, S.C., in 1863, suggesting a broad cooperation and coordination among manufacturers, which is something difficult to document, but part of what make the study of Confederate swords so interesting.

This is very good example of a scarce, classic, Confederate enlisted man’s cavalry saber that would complement any collection of Civil War edge weapons, cavalry arms, or Confederate arms.    [sr][ph:L]

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