Edged Wpns Sauerbier 1840 Cavalry Type 1 Saber

[18401860Ames]

Recently bought the above saber and want to know what value I should place on it for insurance. Scabbard is perfect, grip needs wire. Only mark is an " I" deeply stamped on obverse ricasso.

 

[JackADriscoll]

Great! Some more photos of blade and any marks

 

[JackADriscoll]

Recently bought the above saber and want to know what value I should place on it for insurance. Scabbard is perfect, grip needs wire. Only mark is an " I" deeply stamped on obverse ricasso.

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Assuming the blade is as nice as it looks one of similar quality sold last year for 550.00 but the wire was right on it so I'd drop yours to 475-500.00. any provenance would improve the value greatly, looking forward to more photos

 

[Cornpone and Molasses]

What is up with the pommel?

 

[JackADriscoll]

What is up with the pommel?

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/sauerbier-cavalry-officers-saber-with-etched-blad-25-c-4e84f848b9?srsltid=AfmBOoob7MPUPtZ0UMRBcQfqRtgFD1ZjmE7H-NkUM9Nz3cKJAZMQ4ZcX

Looks to be something they do

 

[R. Porter]

What is up with the pommel?

I would say the hilt has been removed at least once. That may have been to repair the grip. It could have been done during the war. With the pommel screwed down by a nut, the sword may have been disassembled and reassembled several times over the years.

 

[bayonet]

Is it me or has that scabbard been painted or lacquered black? That will lower the value. Also if the length of that wire is still fully intact you can repair the grip yourself. Done it to several ACW and Rev War swords. If not you can order the wire from Tom Nardi at Sword Restoration then do the repair yourself. On a M1860 saber it's easy.

 

[JackADriscoll]

Is it me or has that scabbard been painted or lacquered black? That will lower the value. Also if the length of that wire is still fully intact you can repair the grip yourself. Done it to several ACW and Rev War swords. If not you can order the wire from Tom Nardi at Sword Restoration then do the repair yourself. On a M1860 saber it's easy.

Good eye. It looks that way

 

[R. Porter]

I have seen it suggested that Confederates would paint their scabbards and hilts black but I have not seen any references for this.

 

[Cornpone and Molasses]

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/sauerbier-cavalry-officers-saber-with-etched-blad-25-c-4e84f848b9?srsltid=AfmBOoob7MPUPtZ0UMRBcQfqRtgFD1ZjmE7H-NkUM9Nz3cKJAZMQ4ZcX

Looks to be something they do

Interesting… thanks.

 

[18401860Ames]

Thanks for all the replies.This saber looks identical to my friend Jim Brown's on page 336 of Thillmann's book, except for the drag which is massive. I was hoping for a higher value as I've never seen one in person at the Baltimore, Mansfield ,Ohio or Gettysburg shows in my 30 years of collecting. I removed the paint easily from the scabbard.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[bayonet]

Thanks for all the replies.This saber looks identical to my friend Jim Brown's on page 336 of Thillmann's book, except for the drag which is massive. I was hoping for a higher value as I've never seen one in person at the Baltimore, Mansfield ,Ohio or Gettysburg shows in my 30 years of collecting. I removed the paint easily from the scabbard.

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Wow got the grip apart easily so replacing the wire should be easy

 

[JackADriscoll]

Thanks for all the replies.This saber looks identical to my friend Jim Brown's on page 336 of Thillmann's book, except for the drag which is massive. I was hoping for a higher value as I've never seen one in person at the Baltimore, Mansfield ,Ohio or Gettysburg shows in my 30 years of collecting. I removed the paint easily from the scabbard.

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It's a nice sword but union swords just don't bring it in on the auction market much anymore unless they can be attributed

 

[R. Porter]

Sauerbier sabers are usually on the high side for Union swords when sellers are not trying to pass them off as Confederate at an even higher cost. Some dealers automatically label any cavalry saber with unstopped fullers as Confederate. I would have expected a value over $1,000.00 to be quoted, but they are somewhat rare and often misidentified as Confederate so I don't have a good feel for their value when correctly identified. Don't forget that a correct scabbard bumps the price up.

 

[scooter748driver]

Welcome from the Fort Sumter and the Fredericksburg forums.