Recent M1860 Saber purchase

[SFC Rick Higgins]

Here is my pawn shop purchase that I saw under the counter top. While it may be a pawn shop it is a rather large scale Gun store locally that carries an assortment of neat things. The gun store manager was approached by a guy selling some items from an estate of a famous businessman who started many industrial businesses that lasted over a 100+ years.

 

[zburkett]

Welcome to the forum and nice saber. How is the blade?

 

[CivilWarCollector]

Oh wow. If you post this in the Relics page you'll find out everything you've ever wanted to know about it!

 

[SFC Rick Higgins]

The blade is in magnificent shape. The blade has had the makers mark polished off during the refurbish in an earlier time. The only stamping left is a faint portion of the "S" from the stamped "US". The pommel has the "LD" inspectors stamp and is from L. Dustin 1861-63 arsenal inspector.

 

[UCVRelics]

Nice piece. Have you tried baby powder to bring out the makers mark? Also I see the LD and the X, what are the other letters on the pommel cap? LT

 

[SFC Rick Higgins]

Nice piece. Have you tried baby powder to bring out the makers mark? Also I see the LD and the X, what are the other letters on the pommel cap? LT

The other numbers are actually "17" which is the pommel end and also stamped on the brass hand guard. I have been told that the numbers are to keep the same pieces together during arsenal rebuilds, the scabbard has a "48" stamped on both of it's parts too.

 

[captaindrew]

Welcome from South Florida and the Reenactors forum. Nice piece, thanks for sharing with us.

 

[WJC]

Welcome! Nice acquisition! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Larryh86GT]

Nice looking saber.

 

[SFC Rick Higgins]

Thanks for all the nice compliments BTW. Even though I made the observation about the stamped numbers being so the arsenals could keep the pieces together, I would question that. Why go through the extra steps to use different number stamps when it would have been so much easier to use one set of numbers on the complete sword and scabbard? Just thinking out loud.

 

[JOHN42768]

Great item

 

[Ricochet]

Very nice. Thanks for showing it.

 

[Patrick H]

I like it, too. Thanks for showing it to us.

 

[UCVRelics]

Thanks for all the nice compliments BTW. Even though I made the observation about the stamped numbers being so the arsenals could keep the pieces together, I would question that. Why go through the extra steps to use different number stamps when it would have been so much easier to use one set of numbers on the complete sword and scabbard? Just thinking out loud.

What is the blade length, 35 or 36? From what i'm seeing its a model 1840 wrist breaker. We should be able to nail the maker.

 

[Richard E. Schenk]

What is the blade length, 35 or 36? From what i'm seeing its a model 1840 wrist breaker. We should be able to nail the maker.

To me it looks like a M1860. In addition to the swell on the grip, the spine looks rounded rather than flat like on the M1840. Unfortunately my copy of Charlie Pate's book on inspectors' marks has gone AWOL so I can't check for myself, but the initials on this sword are somewhat uncommon and the combination may give some clue as to the date and maker. (Charlie's book gives a fairly comprehensive ID, bio, and list of weapons inspected for each set of initials found on US weapons.)

 

[originalrebelyell]

I looks very nice.

 

[James N.]

Welcome to the forums from the host of the Stonewall Jackson Forum and a fellow collector of blades - I was just in Lufkin earlier this month for an event on the Angelina College campus!

 

[SFC Rick Higgins]

The blade measures 35"

 

[UCVRelics]

@Richard E. Schenk is correct. At 35" its a model 1860. I went thru all the US makers of the 1860 I'm leaning Mansfield & Lamb as it was the only maker that had a LD inspectors mark.

 

[Larryh86GT]

Is possible to date this? It sure has a lot of marks on it.