Help Identifying Unmarked Sword

[obal7]

I recently picked up, what I suspect is an unmarked Civil War sword. It appears that there are damaged and bent parts of the guard but the handle is still quite solid.
The overall length is about 38" and the widest the blade is 3/4".
I cannot find any markings or stamps anywhere on the sword or scabbard. I included a few photos of the areas that would have maker marks or stamps.
CW Import?
I would like any help, thoughts or guesses as to the identification and era of this sword.

 

[Patrick H]

Wow. That's a wicked looking piece of steel. Long, slender, elegant curve, and a most unusual (to my eye) guard. I'll be interested to see what the experts say. Thanks for posting the pictures!

 

[UCVRelics]

The reason its not marked is you have a CS B Douglas Cavalry Officers sword. Congrats on a great find.

 

[obal7]

Interesting... I am not familiar with a CS Douglas Cavalry officer's sword. Any info on it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[UCVRelics]

Interesting... I am not familiar with a CS Douglas Cavalry officer's sword. Any info on it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

If you could post a photo of the top of the pommel and what is the length of the blade from where it goes into the guard to the tip. I will dig out some info on B Douglas

 

[Richard E. Schenk]

The blade is too narrow for a CW cavalry saber. I suspect this is the so-called enlisted version of the M1872 cavalry saber. Many of them have the knob at the juncture of the pommel and the knuckle guard as on this example. It was not a regulation sword, but a lot of military supply houses carried them in the last quarter of the 19th century.

 

[UCVRelics]

Unstopped fuller says CS

 

[WJC]

Nice acquisition! Thanks for sharing!

 

[obal7]

Thanks for all of your help. Here's a few photos of the top of the pommel. As far as the length of the blade, it is 33". FYI. The fuller runs almost the entire length of the blade. The fuller groove stops approximately 6.5" from the top of the blade. Also, what is the significance of the turned down/ bent down front portion of the hand guard?

 

[hawknknife]

It is for sure an unmarked Confederate saber but not a B. Douglas, Columbia, S.C. I purchased the only known marked Douglas Confederate saber in Jackson, Ms about 1976. It is pictured in Albaugh's Confederate Swords with Addendum on page 26 and 27 of the addendum

 

[Richard E. Schenk]

Unstopped fuller says CS
View attachment 260120

Unstopped fuller also says M1872/80 Field and Cavalry sword. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of the so-called enlisted version immediately available, but here is one of the officer's version.

 

[Package4]

The turned down guard was a preference of the individual trooper, who thought that either his thumb was more comfortable while gripping or with the guard turned down it did not interfere with his or his horse's gear. (reigns, straps, carbine sling etc.)

What is the width of the blade at the hilt?

 

[Package4]

I just re-read the OP and unfortunately I agree with Richard, this IMHO, is most likely a private purchase M1872 enlisted man's saber. The width of 3/4" is way to narrow for a Civil War saber; the Douglass had a known width of 1-1/4" inch, from extant examples. The rondel at the pommel was also a known attribute of the M1872 as was the unstopped fuller.

Good news, though you do not have a $14,000 saber, you do have a fairly rare one.

It is worth bringing to the Baltimore show for verification...…..only a short 6 weeks from now!

 

[hawknknife]

Hard to get the scale of the blade in photos. I agree, not civil war being so narrow.

 

[UCVRelics]

The width of 3/4" is way to narrow for a Civil War saber; the Douglass had a known width of 1-1/4" inch, from extant examples.

My B Douglas is 1 1/4 and I have to Stand Corrected if this is a 3/4 width then its not a B Douglas or any other CS sword. The unstopped fuller always makes my palms itch. Plus the unstopped fuller on CS blades usally come almost to the guard. Sorry for jumping the gun on this one. I thought I was wrong one time but I was only mistaken.

 

[Package4]

My B Douglas is 1 1/4 and I have to Stand Corrected if this is a 3/4 width then its not a B Douglas or any other CS sword. The unstopped fuller always makes my palms itch. Plus the unstopped fuller on CS blades usally come almost to the guard. Sorry for jumping the gun on this one. I thought I was wrong one time but I was only mistaken.

We are all pulling for that "attic" find and extremely rare piece, so it's easy to jump the gun. I also hate relaying bad news, but it is better to know what you have, than hope you have something and count on it.

 

[obal7]

Thanks all for all of your knowledge thoughts and reasoning. It's still a neat little piece of history. Not bad for picking it up at a pawn shop for $49.00. But as Package4 stated, it's best to find out now, than to get bitten later.
You all have never stirred me wrong. Thanks.

 

[Package4]

Thanks all for all of your knowledge thoughts and reasoning. It's still a neat little piece of history. Not bad for picking it up at a pawn shop for $49.00. But as Package4 stated, it's best to find out now, than to get bitten later.
You all have never stirred me wrong. Thanks.

Wow, great price for a fairly rare piece!