Boyle & Gamble Officers Sword Cost Then and Now

[ucvrelics]

Boyle & Gamble was one of the largest producers of swords for the CS Army and made several different type swords. The finest ones they made were the Field & Staff officers swords and depending on condition, etching and if ID to an officer can quite expensive. Below is an invoice from B&G in 1863 and as you can see the officers sword was $28. Today they go anywhere from $5000 to $60,000.

 

[Michael W.]

Quite pricey...

 

[Lanyard Puller]

Indeed the prices are quite steep for one with a solid I.D. Unfortunately fakes abound.
Two very distinctive things to look for in the hilt and blade (on most swords};
The easiest to spot is in the "STAR". A correct B&G will have the top point going nearly all the way to the outer rim of the hilt with a slight right tilt. This feature is always much shorter and more vertical on the repops. Another thing is the B&G "blade weld", although not found on all swords. It appears at the join of 2 dissimilar metals; the hilt and blade. Not always in the same part of the blade but near the grip usually.
The later they were made the more copper is in the brass, and the castings get far less "finish".