Need help identifying this sword

[Boomer110]

I have an opportunity to purchase a sword from an estate that I could use some help with. It seems to be a cavalry officer's sword with an etched blade. There are no maker's marks or government inspection marks. I am thinking it was an imported sword purchased privately. No dates so I can't be sure if it is civil war era but the owner had several other authentic civil war items. The seller did say that the scabbard is a reproduction. Here are the photos. Any ideas of value would be appreciated.

 

[UCVRelics]

Actually its a Field & Staff officers sword. If its an import there should be some kind of markings. Look on top of the spine of the blade and see if there are any markings, also what is the overall length of the blade and the swords.

 

[James N.]

Actually its a Field & Staff officers sword. If its an import there should be some kind of markings. Look on top of the spine of the blade and see if there are any markings, also what is the overall length of the blade and the swords.

I have an opportunity to purchase a sword from an estate that I could use some help with. It seems to be a cavalry officer's sword with an etched blade. There are no maker's marks or government inspection marks. I am thinking it was an imported sword purchased privately. No dates so I can't be sure if it is civil war era but the owner had several other authentic civil war items. The seller did say that the scabbard is a reproduction. Here are the photos. Any ideas of value would be appreciated.

I think not - look again where he says the scabbard is a reproduction. It looks just like one I bought at a reenactment for my original but scabbardless foot officer's sword for reenacting purposes. It is NOT a cavalry officer's sword, though it IS a typical example of a regulation M.1850 Sword for Foot Officers. That simply means junior officers - captains and lieutenants - of infantry or artillery regiments. These swords originally had leather scabbards with shiny brass mounts so it's not unusual to find the swords without them - the leather broke or deteriorated over time. Officers were required to purchase their own uniforms and arms so imported ones made in Germany, France, or England are the norm and are often unmarked. Yours is a typical example of one of the most common Civil War swords that remained regulation until 1872.

 

[Richard E. Schenk]

Agree it is a M1850 Foot Officer Sword, probably by a Solingen, Germany maker. From just a photo it is hard to say for sure, but I also agree that the scabbard looks like it may be an original. Although most M1850 foot officer swords did have leather scabbards, Ames and other makers did equip some with steel scabbards, primarily for company grade officers whose duties were largely performed on horseback.

 

[Boomer110]

Thanks for the input. Is it worth $350?

 

[Glen_C]

The pictures offered are fairly useless in determining a relative value. Ebay is a decent judge of value. Simply search the net for 1850 foot officer sword and look at sold prices and asking prices.

If we can see the other side of the hilt, we can be sure it is not an 1850 Staff&Field, which has a bit more to the guard that often has US as part of that casting. The S&F swords are generally more pricy.

GC

 

[James N.]

Thanks for the input. Is it worth $350?

So-so. It's hard to tell completely about the sword but it appears to be pretty nice: the shagreen/"sharkskin" on the grip doesn't look cracked or broken with chunks missing as is sometimes the case, and unless the blade has unseen rust or pitting it has strong etching that's not too badly worn. The scabbard's probably worth $40-50 even though it's a replica. (Or at least that's what I think mine cost new.) You just have to decide if you want to pay that much or not!

 

[TomP]

Last week we put up an exhibit at The Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center featuring the sword and accouterments of Capt./Lt. Col. Ozro J. Dodds. If you take a look at the banner behind the exhibit cases you can see his rather impressive resume.
The sword is a Model 1850 foot Officer's Sword with a 30" carbon steel blade manufactured by W.H. Horstmann & Sons, of Philadelphia, PA. He had a non-regulation iron scabbard made by the same company. Dodd's had his name and regiment inscribed on the pommel. There is a Facebook post on the Shiloh National Military Park page about the collection, posted on Tuesday July 10. https://www.facebook.com/ShilohNMP/

 

[Boomer110]

Thanks again, went ahead and pulled the trigger on the purchase. Got a pair of Rancheman brass binoculars also for $50. Could not find much info on these but doesn`t look like they were used in the war. Anyway, nice pair of antique binoculars for $50.

 

[Richard E. Schenk]

I would probably go for it, especially if the scabbard is original. One reason I think the scabbard may be original is all the repros I've seen are leather.

 

[James N.]

I would probably go for it, especially if the scabbard is original. One reason I think the scabbard may be original is all the repros I've seen are leather.

As I've said several times now, I bought the mate to this one at a reenactment for my original; it cost $40-50 and was made in India, Pakestan, or China. While there certainly ARE leather reproductions available, there are steel ones like this as well. Generally speaking, it is the leather ones that are farby because they use the same brass mounts as these. Foot officers' swords commonly had straight-across mounts, whereas these have undulating edges. Dodds sword in the Corinth display above is unusual in this respect, and may itself have a replacement scabbard.

 

[mofederal]

Thanks for posting this sword. Congratulations, it looks like you acquired a great looking sword.

 

[TomP]

Dodds sword in the Corinth display above is unusual in this respect, and may itself have a replacement scabbard.

On the spine of the Dodds sword, right up against the hilt, are the words "Iron Proof" engraved into the steel. This one was made with an iron scabbard in mind and treated so there would be no reaction between dissimilar metals. Hortsmann & Sons, the maker of the sword, also made iron scabbards.