John Buford's Gerrysburg sword?

[major bill]

Buford's sword from the Battle of Gettysburg, yes or no?

 

[JeffFromSyracuse]

What's the context here? In a museum? For sale?

 

[major bill]

At a Museum. Brought out of storage for us to see at a Museum closed to public.

 

[RedRover]

The Rock Island Arsenal museum evidently has this sword, attributed to the general:

Regardless of the "provenance" of these swords, the engraving on this sword blade, and on the scabbard in the original post, looks modern (as in late 20th century) to me.

Gen. Buford was promoted to major general of volunteers on his deathbed, in late 1863; the promotion dating from July 1, etc.

 

[major bill]

The Rock Island Arsonal Museum is closed to the public. We pulled some strings and one of the curators opened the doors for us and brought some items for us to see. I thought some forum members might find the sword interesting. It is unclear if this sword will go back on display in the new Museum displays.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

If it was at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, it's the real McCoy.

 

[major bill]

If it was at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, it's the real McCoy.

The curator staid it was a gift from the Daughters of the Confederacy. This made me wonder how they were sure of the fact Buford had carried this sword at Gettysburg? The curator was a bit busy and I did not get to ask him when it was engraved and who engraved it.

 

[RedRover]

The National Portrait Gallery has a Brady image of Buford as a captain (he was commissioned captain in March, 1859, and then to major in Nov., 1861). It is the only image I see online in which he is wearing a sword.

Looks something like an 1850 field and staff officer's sword.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

The pictured subject sword seems to match exactly the design and features of the one depicted on Buford's monument at Gettysburg.

 

[R. Porter]

The Rock Island sword looks like a cavalry private's sword with acceptance stamps that has had its blade chromed and engraved. Was the general the kind of guy who would carry an officer's sword or a private's sword?

 

[7thWisconsin]

Is it possible that the engraving was done sometime in the 20th century, gastly as that thought might be?

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

The Rock Island sword looks like a cavalry private's sword with acceptance stamps that has had its blade chromed and engraved. Was the general the kind of guy who would carry an officer's sword or a private's sword?

He was the sort of guy who would carry a private's sword.

 

[bayonet]

If those engravings were done during or shortly after the ACW then as the saying goes "then I'm a Monkeys Uncle"!

 

[Lanyard Puller]

@Major-bill
As BOGUS as they come !!

 

[UCVRelics]

Yep. The engraving is as bad as it can get.

 

[gc45]

Maybe as phony as the Bat Masterson's Revolvers that pop up now and then, and of course for sale!

 

[major bill]

Maybe as phony as the Bat Masterson's Revolvers that pop up now and then, and of course for sale!

I take it the Rock Island Museum people trusted the UDC about this being his Gettysburg sword. I am unsure how the Museum verified that it was his Gettysburg sword.

 

[UCVRelics]

I take it the Rock Island Museum people trusted the UDC about this being his Gettysburg sword. I am unsure how the Museum verified that it was his Gettysburg sword.

In the words of Ronald Regan, "Trust But Verify"

 

[GELongstreet]

In the words of Ronald Regan, "Trust But Verify"

Wasn´t that phrase originally Russian?

Of course there also is a comparable and widely-used German proverb (Vertrauen ist gut, Kontrolle ist besser.).

 

[UCVRelics]

Wasn´t that phrase originally Russian?

Of course there also is a comparable and widely-used German proverb (Vertrauen ist gut, Kontrolle ist besser.).

I don't know as I'm not a russki I do know that Regan said it about the Russians and he was spot on.