Edged Wpns CSA Sword

[gjpratt]

I concede, I concede! Based on all the evidence presented by uvrelics, James N. and yourself, I have changed my opinion and agree that is most likely is an NPW/S&H. At first, I was convinced that Cunningham's factory produced it, especially after reading at least 4 different accounts of College Hill Arsenal being a separate distinct competitor to NPW, and that he was "the" direct competitor to NPW, but after noting that the CHA examples have blank guards, it appears the attic find is likely indeed a S&H/NPW since there is some obscured blocked stamping on the rusty relic.

Two examples of NPW specimens below appear to show different stamping upon the guard, however, with one being shorter than the other. Were there different guard casts/molds than NPW that could account for the difference? In the pic below, you see my friend's rusty relic in the upper left, with the 2 NPW specimens at top right and bottom left (see the script length difference?), and finally what was listed as an authentic CHA at bottom right, based on the lack of script altogether. Could the longer script NPW simply be a re-pop ? Interesting, and thanks to all who responded previously.

View attachment 389631

There is very little uniformity in the NPW cast guards.

 

[gjpratt]

I don't believe that this can be considered an original piece, there is way too much wrong with it. The unstopped fuller should be visible almost all the way up the blade, the name should be legible and come down lower in the arc.

The sword was not made this way, but distressed to make it appear original, in untouched state it would present as an obvious fake.

My barn found NPW has a rusty (uncleaned) blade but the hilt and guard have the slight green patina of tarnished brass.

 

[vmicraig]

Can you post a closeup photo of the top of the guard?

I would, but it's at my acquaintances house. I'll see if he can take a photo.

 

[Glen_C]

A couple, a Medicus Collection College Hill. The 2007 sale. The second a NPW with a rough grip

The main differences seem to be the backstraps and peen, for a start.

 

[Glen_C]

Or is this one a fake??

Or is this one a fake example?

 

[Glen_C]

My fairly recent College Hill foot officer sword, India made. It came from Blockade Runner.

Cheers
GC

 

[James N.]

I concede, I concede! Based on all the evidence presented by uvrelics, James N. and yourself, I have changed my opinion and agree that is most likely is an NPW/S&H. At first, I was convinced that Cunningham's factory produced it, especially after reading at least 4 different accounts of College Hill Arsenal being a separate distinct competitor to NPW, and that he was "the" direct competitor to NPW, but after noting that the CHA examples have blank guards, it appears the attic find is likely indeed a S&H/NPW since there is some obscured blocked stamping on the rusty relic.

Two examples of NPW specimens below appear to show different stamping upon the guard, however, with one being shorter than the other. Were there different guard casts/molds than NPW that could account for the difference? In the pic below, you see my friend's rusty relic in the upper left, with the 2 NPW specimens at top right and bottom left (see the script length difference?), and finally what was listed as an authentic CHA at bottom right, based on the lack of script altogether. Could the longer script NPW simply be a re-pop ? Interesting, and thanks to all who responded previously.

The hilt shouldn't be rusty at all, except maybe for the backstrap and ferrule, since the "baskets" or guards were made of a high-copper-content brass. I believe according to Albaugh there in fact WERE two different molds used to cast them, one with a much larger and obvious "stippled" finish on the faces; I think the NPW logos were also of different sizes. One stupid peculiarity of these should probably also be noted: in both molds the N of NASHVILLE was BACKWARDS!

 

[gjpratt]

The stippling also varies from marked NPW saber to marked NPW saber.

 

[Lanyard Puller]

Just to add to the confusion, here's an early College Hill and a Plow Works, or whatever, maybe

Here's the NPW;

 

[gjpratt]

@Lanyard Puller. Is there a scabbard with the Plow Works saber? It looks like another transitional model. All the features of the "CHA' saber but with the NPW maker's mark cast in the guard. And noticeably lower quality of workmanship than most of the sabers without NPW cast in the hilt. Interesting variant.

 

[Package4]

I would, but it's at my acquaintances house. I'll see if he can take a photo.

Does the sword have a fuller, the pictures did not indicate one, but could not see length of the blade.

 

[vmicraig]

The hilt shouldn't be rusty at all, except maybe for the backstrap and ferrule, since the "baskets" or guards were made of a high-copper-content brass. I believe according to Albaugh there in fact WERE two different molds used to cast them, one with a much larger and obvious "stippled" finish on the faces; I think the NPW logos were also of different sizes. One stupid peculiarity of these should probably also be noted: in both molds the N of NASHVILLE was BACKWARDS!

I asked the owner to take a closeup of the guard and I believe I can see the tell-take backward N. I have looked at several others online and wondered about that!

 

[Package4]

The hilt shouldn't be rusty at all, except maybe for the backstrap and ferrule, since the "baskets" or guards were made of a high-copper-content brass. I believe according to Albaugh there in fact WERE two different molds used to cast them, one with a much larger and obvious "stippled" finish on the faces; I think the NPW logos were also of different sizes. One stupid peculiarity of these should probably also be noted: in both molds the N of NASHVILLE was BACKWARDS!

I don't believe the hilt is rusted, I agree with @redbob that the piece was in a fire, that said if the hilt is not brass, well.........

 

[redbob]

I don't believe the hilt is rusted, I agree with @redbob that the piece was in a fire, that said if the hilt is not brass, well.........

I suspect that it was subjected to a fast moving fire, as if it had been subjected to a long term hot fire; besides the thin grip wire the hilt would have been toast (sorry for the pun, I couldn't help it). Brass melts at 1710 degrees F.

 

[vmicraig]

Does the sword have a fuller, the pictures did not indicate one, but could not see length of the blade.

It does appear to have a fuller. The blade is 36.5" and 41.5 measuring to the end that normally would be covered by the grip. It was also thought destroyed in a house fire in the 1950's, which accounts for the damage, as opposed to thinking it's a fake. The family knows the officer who owned it (his wife's great great grandfather, last name Brown) who was a member of a Mobile AL Regiment circa 1864

 

[UCVRelics]

I suspect that it was subjected to a fast moving fire, as if it had been subjected to a long term hot fire; besides the thin grip wire the hilt would have been toast (sorry for the pun, I couldn't help it). Brass melts at 1710 degrees F.

If anybody knows fires and when metal melts its Fire Marshall @redbob That would also explain why the wood handle is gone and the wire is still there.

 

[gjpratt]

I finally got around to taking some photos of a side by side comparison showing the evolution of NPW sabers -- an early model Sharp & Hamilton, the so-called College Hill and an early NPW. The Sharp& Hamilton is at the top of the first photo; the "College Hill" is in the middle in all photos.

 

[gjpratt]

In post #15 upstream I wrote:

"Also note that the blades on CHA swords are distinctive and different than the blades of NPW sabers. The CHA blades have a semi-stopped fuller that tapers at the ricasso like a "pen knife.""

I also took a few photos of a College Hill blade over the weekend. Not the best quality -- I had a lot of trouble lining up the blade so the photo showed the edge head on. FWIW: