1863 dated NCO sword and scabbard

[FrankN]

Hello All, I've owned this sword for a few years now. I posted photos of it from a table at an antique gun show before I bought it. I thought I'd show a few more photos. Hopefully these photos are a little better. It's tricky for me to get decent sword photos!

-It's an 1863 dated Roby with a leather scabbard.
-Both the sword and scabbard have F.S.S. markings for federal inspector Frederic S. Strong
-The leather scabbard has been preserved around a weak area with some type of rubbery substance? I'm not sure if both of the screws are original to the scabbard tip.

Thanks for looking and any comments!
Frank

 

[FrankN]

Scabbard photos. The blade is pretty clean with just some light rust. These photos are too dark to show the silver of the blade.

 

[bobinwmass]

NCO scabbards are notorious for breaking right below the scabbard throat and above the drag. My Roby 1863 scabbard was completely broken into 2 pieces right below the throat and held together with duct date when I bought it, but the blade was pristine. My Bubba fix to make the scabbard presentable for the wall was a couple inner splices and some roofing tar. Not ideal but does the job. Your throat screws aren't original, the heads should be small rounded brass. My throat is missing one of the screws, but my drag has both. Photos of what they look like attached.

 

[Joe Whitworth]

There always seems to be more NCO swords than scabbards My 1861 Ames bearing the same inspectors initials as mine is scabbardless. Now I know why.

 

[R. Porter]

What about that lone "S" on the knucklebow? Who is it and why is it there?

 

[bobinwmass]

What about that lone "S" on the knucklebow? Who is it and why is it there?

Possibly a subinspector initial, my 1863 also has it. The letter "M" is also found on the pommel cap of many Roby cavalry sabers.

 

[R. Porter]

Possibly a subinspector initial, my 1863 also has it. The letter "M" is also found on the pommel cap of many Roby cavalry sabers.

View attachment 438092

That letter "M" gets around. It also shows up on the ricasso of every J.B.A. blade and on a lot of pommels for J.B.A. swords. I also shows up on some model 1860 cavalry swords without J.B.A. and, as you indicate, on some model 1840 NCO swords. I suspect it is associated with repair or reconditioning of a sword at an armory or arsenal.