Confederate Cavalry Saber

scooter748driver · Jan 13, 2023

As some may know, I recently decided to switch my collecting interests toward Confederate items. I know - dark and dangerous waters! Buyer beware, both of frauds and of going broke! Given the supply/demand relationship of things Confederate, I realize that short of winning the lottery my "collection" will only ever amount to a few items. But I am enjoying the research, the hunt, and pursuit of a few items.

I'm proud to present this Confederate cavalry saber made by Kraft, Goldschmidt & Kraft of Columbia, South Carolina.

These sabers are often referred to as being a "Marshall" saber as they were originally believed to have been made by Marshall of Georgia. This pattern of sword is illustrated on page 107 of Shannon Pritchard's book Collecting the Confederacy.

These sabers are very distinctive even though they are completely unmarked. This one has a 30 1/2 inch blade that is almost completely straight with a slight curve at the lower half. It has a single hand forged fuller on each side of the blade. The saber retains its original wooden core as well as most of the original leather and the single strand iron wire. You can see casting bubbles in the brass where it was made in a sand mold. There is a number 25 stamped into the guard. It is unclear if this number refers to a regiment, an inventory number, etc. Unfortunately it does not have its wooden scabbard.

I'm very proud and happy to add this genuine Confederate cavalry saber to my small collection of Confederate items.

Patrick H · Jan 13, 2023

I don't know much at all about swords and sabers, but I'd be happy if it were mine!

UCVRelics · Jan 13, 2023

Welcome to the deep end of the pool. Nice CS acquisition but just a small note on these, This straight foot sized bladed sword with cavalry hilt may have been made for a mounted foot officer. The scabbard is identical in construction to scabbards made for Nashville Plow Works Cavalry sabers also. This hilt is also associated by some collectors with K,G&K of Columbia, SC or Hammond Marshall of Atlanta; but most recent evidence points to these as Nashville products. Another thing is if you think it was hard to find a scabbard for your yankee foot officers sword, this one will be next to impossible. :nah disagree:

scooter748driver · Jan 14, 2023

ucvrelics said:
Welcome to the deep in of the pool. Nice CS acquisition but just a small note on these, This straight foot sized bladed sword with cavalry hilt may have been made for a mounted foot officer. The scabbard is identical in construction to scabbards made for Nashville Plow Works Cavalry sabers also. This hilt is also associated by some collectors with K,G&K of Columbia, SC or Hammond Marshall of Atlanta; but most recent evidence points to these as Nashville products. Another thing is if you think it was hard to find a scabbard for your yankee foot officers sword, this one will be next to impossible.

Thank you! I cant say I'm swimming but maybe dog paddling lol.

Can you point me to a source for the thoughts that they could be Nashville in origin? I know the wood scabbards were not produced by KG&K as there are swords by other manufactures that had the same wooden scabbard. Here is some info I found from Shannon Pritchard (author of Collecting the Confederacy) regarding these swords:

There has been much speculation over the years as to the maker of this wooden sheathed sword. In William Albaugh's 1963 work A Photographic Supplement of Confederate Swords, he speculates that it is a product of Kraft, Goldschmidt and Kraft of Columbia, South Carolina; based on the long, nearly straight blades, brass ferrule at the base of the grip and small gauge wire used in winding the grips of both swords. Later discoveries had confirmed his supposition. However this pattern is still frequently referred to within the collecting community as having been made by H. Marshall of Atlanta, Georgia. I can find no evidence whatsoever for this attribution. The only sword known to have been made by H. Marshall is an exquisite officer's sword of the very best quality I believe the theory that Marshall made this pattern is untenable.

There is a production knife in the South Carolina Relic Room in Columbia, South Carolina, that has a grip and basket identical to the sword shown here, it is identified as having been made in Columbia. Columbia is where the Kraft, Goldschmidt, Kraft sword factory was located.The knife and this pattern sword share several features with the K, G & K officer's swords: a wire grip winding of small diameter, and leather grip wrap made of inferior material, consequently most are missing the wrap.All have brass ferrules at the base of the grip like the K, G & K officer's swords.

Another Confederate sword manufacturer located in Columbia was B. Douglas.Douglas produced a cavalry sword that utilized an identical wooden scabbard. Presumably someone in Columbia made scabbards for both manufacturers, or one sold scabbards to the other.

Of course I'm very open to it being produced elsewhere. Seems there's always something to learn about Confederate weapons! One thing for certain though, it's definitely Confederate.

As for ever locating a proper original scabbard for it....let's just say I've better chances of winning the lottery.

Regardless, whether it's Columbia as thought or Nashville (or even Georgia), it's a fantastic sword. Great condition, solid and tight, not a jiggle or rattle, with pure Confederate origins. I'm tickled pink!

UCVRelics · Jan 14, 2023

scooter748driver said:
I'm tickled pink!

You should be as its a nice sword and Congrats. The info I posted above is from John Sexton. One of the things about CS unmarked swords is when the books were written back in the early days whether it was Albaugh's book on swords, Alberts button book or Mason & McGee's bullet book the info they published was based what was known at the time. Over the years and especially with the interWeb a lot of info has come out on a LOT of items that was previously unknown. Which is why we have some many updated or new books on items.

After looking at yours closer I'm going to stand corrected as the blade tip is the tell tell. Below is the Nashville version I referred to and below that is the KG&K. The guards a just about twins but the foot officers tip is the dead give away.

Nashville sword.