CONFEDERATE SHORT SWORD WITH SOLDIER’S INITIALS- NORTH CAROLINA ESTATE

$2,950.00 ON HOLD

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2025-391

Modelled on the US M1832 short sword, which was itself based on an earlier French pattern, these are classed as foot artillery short swords from their earlier French and later American use, but were first brought into American use as infantry NCO swords and as musician’s swords as well, and from the 1830s through the 1850s saw substantial use by militia companies of all sorts, and even by fraternal groups, because of their impressive martial appearance, allusion to the gladius short sword of the Roman Republic, and some extensive marketing.

This measures 24-1/4” overall and is fitted with an 18-1/2” blade that is 1-1/2” wide at the guard. The hilt is made with a plain pommel, omitting the eagle of the U.S. version, but having a similar mound for the peened blade tang. The grip is cast with eighteen rows of feathers, has no grip rivets showing, and has a crossguard with straight quillons having recessed centers and turned disk finials, all with a raised rim. The finishing of the interior of the finials is a bit cruder than US examples. The number of rows of feathers mirrors the Ames pattern. The brass shows various light handling dings and scratches and overall has a muted, aged brass patina.

The blade is double-edged, with slight wasp waist, spear-pointed, and bears a single central, rather uneven fuller. There is no pad at shoulder and the blade shoulder shows a gap on one side between the base of the blade and the guard. We see just one very small nick to the blade edge. The metal is smooth overall, showing a bluish-gray patina with only a couple of spots of shallow salt-and-peppering and a small fingerprint size casting flaw or machining slip in the fuller on either side, on one side closer to the guard than on the other.

This came out of a North Carolina estate, with no scabbard and with no name attached to it, but does bear two sets of initials. Lightly scratched into the recessed guard on one side is what seems to be “WPM.” On the other side is more deeply carved, “W.R.B.” in block letters. Although relegated to heavy artillery in the US army by the Civil War, these short swords are sometimes recovered in places making it clear they were in the hands of light or field artillery units as well, most likely used for hacking down brush in and around gun positions and clearing fields of fire, though they would certainly have been useful in digging gun emplacements and, if necessary, cutting harness from dead or wounded horses in the gun teams.

This would make a good addition to a Confederate artillery or edged weapons collection, or even a more specialized collection of Confederate knives of just CS short swords, which in themselves offer quite a variety.  [sr] [ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!

Inquire About CONFEDERATE SHORT SWORD WITH SOLDIER’S INITIALS- NORTH CAROLINA ESTATE

For inquiries, please email us at [email protected]

featured item

US PATTERN 1858 SMOOTHSIDE CANTEEN IDENTIFIED TO 13TH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS

The body of this canteen is covered in a very nice conditioned sky-blue cloth and is strongly stenciled on one side with “13” over “PV” done in white paint. The cover is solid with no signs of moth damage or seam separations. The edges of the… (490-4680). Learn More »

Upcoming Events

20
May

June 28 - 29: Annual Gettysburg Civil War Show Learn More »

Instagram