Real Confederate Sword?

[Cumpston1862]

Unfortunately, no. I'm from the Dark Ages BI ( Before Internet ) and have gotten most of my information from books. The aforementioned William Albaugh was the authority on Confederate weapons in the 1950's and 60's when I first started learning about them. His Photographic Supplement of Confederate Swords was the illustrated volume which accompanied an earlier book illustrated only with line drawings; for the time it was the prime source on Confederate edged weapons. I feel sure others have expanded on his work since, especially in our digital age; unfortunately I don't know anything about them. One good source, especially for detailed photographs, would likely be in the online archives of Heritage Auction Galleries, through which I sold some of my collection. I think even though auctions end they maintain the items in their database. Other reliable dealers like Larry Hicklen and others named in other posts would probably be good as well.

Thank you James. I have thought about getting a copy of Mr. Albaugh's book but sinse I am really not in the market for a Confederate sword at the moment I will probably wait.

If I may press you for your opinion on another book. I was thinking about purchasing "Collecting the Confederacy" by Shannon Pritchard. Are you familiar with this book and do you feel it is worth owning?

 

[James N.]

Thank you James. I have thought about getting a copy of Mr. Albaugh's book but sinse I am really not in the market for a Confederate sword at the moment I will probably wait.

If I may press you for your opinion on another book. I was thinking about purchasing "Collecting the Confederacy" by Shannon Pritchard. Are you familiar with this book and do you feel it is worth owning?

No, I've never seen it, because like yourself, I'm no longer in the market for such "pricey" items. I divested myself of about one-third to one-half my Civil War-era edged weapons, keeping mainly one example each of Union regulation infantry, cavalry, and artillery swords and sabers, plus one each Confederate cavalry and foot officer's sword. I similarly thinned-out my collection of French Napoleonic sabers when I moved into my small house, keeping the so-called smallswords, plus a few common short sabers. I've always been interested in edged weapons, but don't collect anywhere like I once did, apart from an occasional WWII-era knife, dagger, or bayonet.

 

[Cumpston1862]

No, I've never seen it, because like yourself, I'm no longer in the market for such "pricey" items. I divested myself of about one-third to one-half my Civil War-era edged weapons, keeping mainly one example each of Union regulation infantry, cavalry, and artillery swords and sabers, plus one each Confederate cavalry and foot officer's sword. I similarly thinned-out my collection of French Napoleonic sabers when I moved into my small house, keeping the so-called smallswords, plus a few common short sabers. I've always been interested in edged weapons, but don't collect anywhere like I once did, apart from an occasional WWII-era knife, dagger, or bayonet.

Thank-you James.

 

[Bob Owen]

I'm leaning heavy on the side of an authentic Boyle and Gamble field officers sword!

 

[Bob Owen]

I wish someone had not polished the brass as Confederate brass with age and patina shows a reddish tint to it. The copper content is higher.

 

[Jaycalgary]

Here is a few more pics. I just wanted to get the green residue and some of the heavier build up that got on it. I am sure I will go no farther with cleaning it off. I like the way it looks now but do you think I did more harm then good? Thanks Jay

 

[James N.]

Here is a few more pics. I just wanted to get the green residue and some of the heavier build up that got on it. I am sure I will go no farther with cleaning it off. I like the way it looks now but do you think I did more harm then good? Thanks Jay

Nothing serious - it will re-patinate; besides, the green is corrosion which can eventually prove harmful, much like rust on iron. What Bob is talking about is that since brass is an alloy of nickel and copper, it can tell a LOT about an item made of it. In this case, nickel was in short supply in the Confederacy compared to copper, so Confederate brass has a resultingly distinct reddish hue. This can be important in determining the authenticity of an item, especially one that has so many known modern fakes as anything Confederate does!

Consider the appearance of the usual flea-market candlesticks and other brass from India and Pakestan ( two countries that have produced many fakes and reproductions of all sorts of antiquities ): their brass has a higher nickel component and a noticeable dullness of finish when compared to the real thing. In a field as troubled by fakery as is arms collection in general, anything that helps establish authenticity is a good thing; I own a Confederate cavalry saber that has a wonderful deep reddish patina I wouldn't change for anything!