SCARCE CONFEDERATE CAVALRY SABER PRODUCED BY MEMPHIS NOVELTY WORKS

SCARCE CONFEDERATE CAVALRY SABER PRODUCED BY MEMPHIS NOVELTY WORKS

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$8,500.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1268-350

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Call 717-334-0347,
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This is a scarce Confederate cavalry saber in scabbard made by Thomas Leech at his Memphis Novelty Works sometime in late 1861 or early 1862. Thomas Leech produced arms for the Southern Confederacy at three different locations during the war, but his Memphis location was the earliest. A cotton broker before the war with a sideline as a gun dealer, he took on some partners at the start of hostilities to go into the military goods and arms business, opening the “Novelty Works” at the corner of Main and McCall Streets in Memphis. There he sold and manufactured “army cutlery,” including infantry, cavalry and artillery swords and sabers, cutlasses, knives, and bayonets, as well as “brass castings of all kinds,” which included spurs, bullet molds, and brass saddle fittings. By March 1862, however, he had formed a partnership with Charles Rigdon and the two set up a factory in Columbus, MS, where they moved operations entirely in early May as Union troops approached Memphis. By that time, however, the company had become Leech and Rigdon and there was no further need for Memphis in the business address .

The brass hilt has a nice, medium patina of age. The cloth covered grip was tarred or painted black; however, use and time have eroded away the blackening leaving principally the course cloth under layer. The thin double copper wire binding is in place. The pommel shows a few service dings. The maker's stamped name is fully legible: "MEMPHIS" over "NOVELTY WORKS". Because of the curved surface of the quillon, the stamp is sharper in the middle than on the edges so the top of the first “M” in the upper line and the “NO” and “KS” of the middle line are light. The underside of the counterguard is not contoured. The blade pad is no longer in place. The 34 3/4-inch-long blade is gently curved; it has an unstopped fuller aka a "blood gutter". The metal has a gray metallic patina with freckling and shallow pitting overall. The scabbard is well made. The surface is deeply patinated with a light pitting overall. The throat and drag are iron. The ring mounts are brass and show a mellow patina. The scabbard has no major dings. The overall length of this sword is 42 inches.

This Confederate maker marked cavalry sword, a fine example, was once proudly displayed at the Texas Civil War Museum by its founder, Ray Richey.  [pe][ph:L]

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