Real or Faux? Confederate sword?

[Enoch L. Cade]

Hello all. I hope to make use of the collective genius of this forum again. I'm looking to add a line officer's sword to my minuscule collection. I came across this one in a large and highly regarded store from whom I've bought in the past, but I think it has a blind spot with Confederate weapons. @Lanyard Puller and others saved me from an embarrassing an expensive mistake.

These are images of what it advertises as a Boyle and Gamble Confederate sword. I note that it lacks etching. Okay, it may be a cheaper version? The hilt does not resemble the B&G image @Lanyard Puller posted here -- but it looks sort of like the hilt on the B&G sword @LtDan posted here. I also did not see any evidence of the blade defect that both of those gents mentioned.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts. Soon I'll post a few pics of what is being advertised as a possible EJ Edwards blade.

 

[LtDan]

Hello,
It appears to be a correct B&G foot officer's sword to me. I'll attach similar photos of my sword for comparison. I do not know if all Boyle & Gamble foot officer swords had etched blades. There are certainly many swords without visible etching......some being worn or cleaned off if it had existed. I do believe the Boyle, Gamble & MacFee foot officer swords were not etched.
I do not know of any recent reference books for these swords. You may want to find a copy of William Albaugh's "A Photographic Supplement of Confederate Swords". It was first published in 1963 and updated in 1979. I'm sure there's a lot of newer information out there but I've found this to be a good basic guide.
I think I can see part of a flaw line in your photo showing the left side of the blade. These flaws are not always as visible as the one on my sword. Also, I see the number "52" stamped under the guard. One of my photos shows the number "21" on my sword. Albaugh notes these numbers are found on "practically all swords by B&G......and are on the pommel, blade tang and underside of the guard. The guard is the only visible location without disassembling the sword". I'll also include a picture from Albaugh's book showing pommel styles. He shows 4 different styles. Hope this is helpful and good luck in your search. I'm glad to see some posts regarding confederate swords.

 

[JackADriscoll]

Here is the entry from my favorite book

 

[Enoch L. Cade]

Thank you both. The smartest people are all in this forum.

 

[gjpratt]

Here is the entry from my favorite book

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Hello all. I hope to make use of the collective genius of this forum again. I'm looking to add a line officer's sword to my minuscule collection. I came across this one in a large and highly regarded store from whom I've bought in the past, but I think it has a blind spot with Confederate weapons. @Lanyard Puller and others saved me from an embarrassing an expensive mistake.

These are images of what it advertises as a Boyle and Gamble Confederate sword. I note that it lacks etching. Okay, it may be a cheaper version? The hilt does not resemble the B&G image @Lanyard Puller posted here -- but it looks sort of like the hilt on the B&G sword @LtDan posted here. I also did not see any evidence of the blade defect that both of those gents mentioned.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts. Soon I'll post a few pics of what is being advertised as a possible EJ Edwards blade.

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Looks correct to me, too. The scabbard in the first photo does not look like a B&G product.

 

[Patrick H]

I don't know much about swords and sabers, but I always click into these threads. They fascinate me. Looks like a couple of our experts like your sword. And I always learn a little by reading the expert comments. Congratulations!

 

[Patrick H]

This brief story won't shed any light on our original poster's sword, but it will help to explain my fascination with them.

First, you must understand that my small city of Boonville, Missouri has a lot of Civil War history. In fact, within the state of Missouri, the Civil War started on farms just a few miles east of where I sit at this moment.

When I was about 15 years old I was working at my first job as a stock boy and delivery boy at one of the local pharmacies. This was about the time of the CW centennial years. Every day after school I walked prescription deliveries to people who lived all around in central neighborhoods.

One day I made my first delivery to a very old lady who lived in a nice, small house in the old part of town. She invited me in while she went into the other room to get something for me to take back to the store. Above her beautiful oak mantel hung a large art piece showing farms on fire and people being abused by guys in uniforms. I later learned this must have been an original engraving of George Caleb Bingham's famous "Martial Law--Order Number 11." Of course I had no knowledge of that at the time. Below the engraving hung a saber. It was beautiful to my teenage eyes. I can still picture the elegant curve of the blade. The lady came back into the room and proudly said: "It was my father's. He was a Captain in General Price's army!" Again, I was ignorant of the significance of what she'd just said, but I knew captains were often important officers, and her father was not only a captain, but he served under a general who was obviously famous to everyone but me.

That's the sort of family story a kid could bump into again and again in Boonville during the 1960s. It obviously made an impression on me, and I think of it every time I drive by that house, although I have no idea who lives there now. I still haven't learned much about swords and sabers, but my fascination with them has never left me.

 

[66Jayhawk]

Interesting Patrick! My family is from the Boonville/Franklin/New Franklin area (my Grandfather grew up in a log cabin just outside of town near the Missouri River and later built a house in the 1920s just down the road from Snoddy's General Store - the original store ...wonky floor boards and all). My Dad taught at Kemper in the early 60s and my mother was secretary there. How cool to meet someone whose father served in the war and the sword was still around! I grew up sleeping in a single, steel bed my Mom bought from Thespian Hall that she said had provenance back to when it was a hospital/barracks for soldiers during the war (whether or not that's true, I don't know, but it was cool as a kid to think it true).

That said, we eastern Kansans feel the civil war actually started within 45 miles of the MO/KS border in the 1850s...it just wasn't recognized as such yet.

Eric

 

[Patrick H]

Interesting Patrick! My family is from the Boonville/Franklin/New Franklin area (my Grandfather grew up in a log cabin just outside of town near the Missouri River and later built a house in the 1920s just down the road from Snoddy's General Store - the original store ...wonky floor boards and all). My Dad taught at Kemper in the early 60s and my mother was secretary there. How cool to meet someone whose father served in the war and the sword was still around! I grew up sleeping in a single, steel bed my Mom bought from Thespian Hall that she said had provenance back to when it was a hospital/barracks for soldiers during the war (whether or not that's true, I don't know, but it was cool as a kid to think it true).

That said, we eastern Kansans feel the civil war actually started within 45 miles of the MO/KS border in the 1850s...it just wasn't recognized as such yet.

Eric

I think most of our members would be fascinated if they could take a time machine back to Snoddy's General Store!

 

[Glen_C]

I think most of our members would be fascinated if they could take a time machine back to Snoddy's General Store!

My paternal history follows Boone to MO and settles in the Sullivan County area about 1812. First cousins on both sides. A father and son pledging to the blue and running with the gray. My gggradfather left, because the inlaws were very gray. One relation was a family of morticians and has lots of trees. Green City was the hub later on for the clan. Some cousins destined to follow Sherman, others with activity in the Red River area.

An almost lost page from a fellow no longer with us. Grandfather replaced several headstones in Owasco.

Owasco Missouri Families

 

[Patrick H]

Interesting Patrick! My family is from the Boonville/Franklin/New Franklin area (my Grandfather grew up in a log cabin just outside of town near the Missouri River and later built a house in the 1920s just down the road from Snoddy's General Store - the original store ...wonky floor boards and all). My Dad taught at Kemper in the early 60s and my mother was secretary there. How cool to meet someone whose father served in the war and the sword was still around! I grew up sleeping in a single, steel bed my Mom bought from Thespian Hall that she said had provenance back to when it was a hospital/barracks for soldiers during the war (whether or not that's true, I don't know, but it was cool as a kid to think it true).

That said, we eastern Kansans feel the civil war actually started within 45 miles of the MO/KS border in the 1850s...it just wasn't recognized as such yet.

Eric

66Jayhawk, please see a note from me in your private messages.