Antique Store Saber Find ...

[Drumfish420]

Found this recently at an antique mall in Virginia. The only information available was that it was from an estate sale. I'm not sure what exactly I have here other than it is CS 1862 marked, has a 44 stamped on the hand-guard, and has an inscription top of the handle. It certainly looks ACW. The blade is 33.5".

Can anybody please provide any information on this piece? Thanks.

 

[UCVRelics]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but this sword is a fake and I have seen it pop up a few times over the years. B&G did not date their swords. Hope you aren't to deep into it and I would take it back.

 

[OldSarge79]

I agree with ucvrelics. I'm not a sword guy, but looking through my copy of "Confederate Edged Weapons," there is no Boyle & Gamble sword that looks remotely similar. The name "Boyle & Gamble" should be more professionally done, and even worse, it was not Boyle & Gamble & Co."
The name etched into the handle is amateurish.

 

[Drumfish420]

Thanks guys, I kinda figured it was too good to be true. Not into it too deep at all thankfully.

Any idea what its worth as it is? Or who the real manufacturer is? Thanks

 

[Choatecav]

Sure am sorry that you got stung on that one. I hope they didn't hit you too hard.

This reminds me of the very rare "Nashville Plow Works" sabers. A real one can cost almost as much as a house. Back around the turn of the century, several fakes were made and they were very well-made fakes. Now, those "fakes" are 120 years old and have a nice patina and color. The amazing thing is that I understand that even those fakes have a pretty decent value now.

 

[bayonet]

Arizona Swords www.azswords.com last I looked has that listed on his Fake page. "Worth" you say, about $2.95 to include the tax. Ok ok maybe "worth" $3.95 Monday thru Friday. Like ucvrelics says take it back or use it as a weed whacker.

 

[R. Porter]

My first guess would be that it came out of a factory in China in the past 10 years. China has been churning out fake, artificially aged, antiques for years. In Williamsburg, VA, they sell reproductions because the items are supposed to look and behave like the real thing but are not presented as the real thing. In China they put on fake patinas and frequently produce fantasy pieces that never really existed. Sometimes their inscriptions are made of random words and letters because it's China and they don't always understand English well.

I believe that the particular sword that is the subject of this thred is a poor copy of a post Napoleonic Spanish cavalry sword.

 

[TLHS]

My first guess would be that it came out of a factory in China in the past 10 years. China has been churning out fake, artificially aged, antiques for years. In Williamsburg, VA, they sell reproductions because the items are supposed to look and behave like the real thing but are not presented as the real thing. In China they put on fake patinas and frequently produce fantasy pieces that never really existed. Sometimes their inscriptions are made of random words and letters because it's China and they don't always understand English well.

I believe that the particular sword that is the subject of this thred is a poor copy of a post Napoleonic Spanish cavalry sword.

There appears to be no component of the "sabre" that has any age to it. Suggest you return it and demand your money back as an outright fake.

 

[Solomon]

My first guess would be that it came out of a factory in China in the past 10 years. China has been churning out fake, artificially aged, antiques for years. In Williamsburg, VA, they sell reproductions because the items are supposed to look and behave like the real thing but are not presented as the real thing. In China they put on fake patinas and frequently produce fantasy pieces that never really existed. Sometimes their inscriptions are made of random words and letters because it's China and they don't always understand English well.

I believe that the particular sword that is the subject of this thred is a poor copy of a post Napoleonic Spanish cavalry sword.

So sad, that in addition to all the domestic fakes (both old and new), we now have to contend with Chinese knockoffs on the market.

I don't know where they're all coming from, but seems ebay just gets more and more choked with fantasy pieces, yes, to the point I wonder sometimes if there will be anyone left in coming decades, who are able to discern historic reality from the embellished world of 21st century fantasy.

And what's worse, is the that some of the sellers know the difference and are weighing profits over the integrity they should be upholding and defending. I bought a piece a while back from a certain seller with ubiquitous red background (hint, hint), and after having a good laugh after getting the piece in hand, and then after unfortunately needed action from eBay to resolve, I handed it to the kids to play with.

 

[bayonet]

So sad, that in addition to all the domestic fakes (both old and new), we now have to contend with Chinese knockoffs on the market.

I don't know where they're all coming from, but seems ebay just gets more and more choked with fantasy pieces, yes, to the point I wonder sometimes if there will be anyone left in coming decades, who are able to discern historic reality from the embellished world of 21st century fantasy.

And what's worse, is the that some of the sellers know the difference and are weighing profits over the integrity they should be upholding and defending. I bought a piece a while back from a certain seller with ubiquitous red background (hint, hint), and after having a good laugh after getting the piece in hand, and then after unfortunately needed action from eBay to resolve, I handed it to the kids to play with.

E-Bay is just about that last place to go to purchase ACW or RevWar antiques