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LOT 1130
Historic Confederate Thomas, Griswold & Co. Cavalry Saber and Scabbard Identified as Captured at New Bern, North Carolina, and then Presented to H.W. Clark - Operating out of New Orleans, Thomas, Griswold & Company manufactured and imported military material for the Confederacy from August 1861, when the firm of Hyde & Goodrich was reorganized to make Henry Thomas Jr. and A.B. Griswold the senior partners, to April of 1862, when the Union Occupation of New Orleans went into effect. Like most Confederate makers, the firm used antebellum U.S. Army regulation patterns with this particular sword and scabbard
being based on the U.S. Model 1840 Artillery Saber. The curved blade is 35 1/4 inch long and is marked “THOMAS. GRISWOLD & Co./NEW ORLEANS.” on the left ricasso. The brass hilt has floral patterns and a twisted wire and brown leather wrapped grip. The scabbard is brass. A red painted “A 186” inventory mark is on the front of the guard.
The sword is accompanied by a cloth tag and brass plaque indicating that this sword was captured at New Berne (New Bern), North Carolina, when the city fell to General Ambrose Burnside’s forces on March 14, 1862, and was then presented to H.W. Clark by Captain W. B. Marsh (possibly “W.R. Marsh) and lists the Connecticut Historical Society. The 21st, 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 27th Massachusetts, and the 10th Connecticut all fought in the battle of New Bern on March 14, 1862.
CONDITION: Fine overall with a mostly bright polished blade with mild pitting, light period sharpening, and edge wear; attractively aged patina on the brass hilt and scabbard, and mild wear on the fine grip. Overall a solid Confederate cavalry saber with interesting history. Estimate: 14,000 - 20,000
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