Cavalry saber

[captaindrew]

I have a original cavalry saber I've had for years I got at a flea market in Jersey when I was a kid and never had it looked at by a pro. It's not in great shape and the leather and wire were gone from the grip but it's still very solid. The top of the handle is marked D.H. On one side of the blade is marked N.J. underneath that U then a very small mark next to it and underneath that 186 the last number is illegible. On the other side there is writing in an arc pattern but illegible.

 

[Richard E. Schenk]

If you could post photos of the markings at the base of the blade I might be able to tell you more about who may have made it.

 

[captaindrew]

It's hard to see but here it is

 

[captaindrew]

There is also the D.H. stamp between the U and the date on the blade

 

[captaindrew]

I looked closely on the flat part of the blade for any marks and didn`t see any

 

[UCVRelics]

model 1860 cavalry sword made by Emerson & Silver Trenton NJ

 

[UCVRelics]

Here is their markings. a little baby powder sprinkled on it may help bring it out but from the NJ I sure its an Emerson & Silver.

 

[captaindrew]

I`m sure that`s it, the faint markings in an arc pattern on the blade are just that size. Thank you so much. I`m assuming that the U mark would make it a war time product. Would it be worth restoring the grip or should I just leave it alone? Thanks again

 

[Jordan M.E. Williams]

I`m sure that`s it, the faint markings in an arc pattern on the blade are just that size. Thank you so much. I`m assuming that the U mark would make it a war time product. Would it be worth restoring the grip or should I just leave it alone? Thanks again

http://swordrestorationtn.com

Tom Nardi may be able to restore the grip of your sabre.

 

[captaindrew]

http://swordrestorationtn.com

Tom Nardi may be able to restore the grip of your sabre.

Thanks, I`ll check that out

 

[Patrick H]

I have seen these in other people's collections and held them and "handled" them. I have a friend (about 90 years of age) who lives in her great uncle's house in my county and who had his saber hanging over a mantel in the house. His name is engraved on the blade. I think these old sabers are so cool--almost regardless of their condition. I think the days of picking them up in flea markets are probably gone, but who knows what can happen where?

 

[captaindrew]

I have seen these in other people's collections and held them and "handled" them. I have a friend (about 90 years of age) who lives in her great uncle's house in my county and who had his saber hanging over a mantel in the house. His name is engraved on the blade. I think these old sabers are so cool--almost regardless of their condition. I think the days of picking them up in flea markets are probably gone, but who knows what can happen where?

You would laugh if you knew what I paid for it even though it was a long time ago. It was sitting in a pile of old rusty stuff, I knew what it was, the people who had it didn`t. Took it home, lightly cleaned the outer layer of rust off it, oiled it, and it`s been a wall hanger ever since. I saw some other sword threads on here so I figured I`d put it on. Now I know more about it thanks to the great folks on here.

 

[UCVRelics]

I`m sure that`s it, the faint markings in an arc pattern on the blade are just that size. Thank you so much. I`m assuming that the U mark would make it a war time product. Would it be worth restoring the grip or should I just leave it alone? Thanks again

I would NOT touch it as once the blade tang is ground off to remove the hilt it will never have the same patina as the rest of the blade. Also, if look really close and use the baby powder you will an S next to the U.

 

[captaindrew]

I would NOT touch it as once the blade tang is ground off to remove the hilt it will never have the same patina as the rest of the blade. Also, if look really close and use the baby powder you will an S next to the U.

Thanks again, I`ll leave it alone. I`ve had it about 30 years now without touching it except for a little light oil once and a while so I`ll leave it be. Looks good to me the way it is. I wish I could read the last number on the date. It almost looks like they missed it a little with the stamp. The 1 is deep then gradually shallows to nothing half way through the 6. From the other sword threads the DH would be the individual makers mark or the inspectors mark correct? I guess that`s something I could find out if I search the Emerson & Silver Co. swords.

 

[JOHN42768]

Good old garage sales. One man's junk another mans treasures.

 

[captaindrew]

I have to make a correction, my eyes failed me, looking at it again with a magnifying glass trying to see the last number the inspectors mark is D.R. not DH. I tried a quick search on inspectors marks and didn`t see a DR. I`ll keep looking, that may narrow the date down a little bit

 

[Richard E. Schenk]

The large "N.J" indicates the sword was owned by New Jersey and used by one of its militia/volunteer units. The state used this mark on a large number of muskets, bayonets, swords and other small arms. They all feature the same font and a single period between the "N" and "J".

I believe the inspector mark on both the blade and the pommel is "D.R.". (There were no known CW arms inspectors with the initials "DH") These are the initials of contract arms inspector Daniel Reynolds who worked primarily at Ames. I am not aware of him having inspected Emerson and Silver swords. I really can't make out any of the letters in the maker's name, but it does look like it is arched in the manner of the Emerson and Silver mark. However Ames also used an arched address on some swords.

If this is the mark on your sword, the date is 1864 since Ames only used this design in that year.

 

[captaindrew]

I did the baby powder trick and the mark is DR and comparing with the picture above you can very faintly see a AS of the MASS mark and the faint arched markings like the picture above. My other half`s better eyes think she can see a faint part of a 4 for the last number of the date. You all are the best, thank you so much for the help. Learned a lot with this thread.

 

[captaindrew]

It is a 1864 Ames issued in NJ then. Makes sense being that`s where I found it. Thanks again everybody, been looking at it for years not knowing it`s true history.

 

[Glen_C]

The grip can be restored without dismounting the hilt.

Cheers

GC