Confederate Heavy Artillery Short Sword – CS and Star Type

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Confederate Heavy Artillery Short Sword – CS and Star Type – Although specifically unknown, it is believed that these swords were produced by a number of Southern makers including The Confederate States Armory, Wilmington, North Carolina; W.J. McElroy in Macon, Georgia; and E. J. Johnston & Co., also of Macon, Georgia – the latter produced one hundred and fifty for use by the Choctaw Artillery. Other war-time, southern manufacturers, whose names are unknown today, produced several variations of these swords. This sword has a crudely cast, brass hilt with an inset star on the pommel and the letters “CS” cast on each side of the cross guard; the grip has cast ribs. The hilts were hollow cast and when the hilt was removed from the mold, significant flaws often appeared; most original examples have obvious casting flaws that penetrate to the core and exhibit holes in the brass. There are these typically obvious casting flaws in the hilt of this example, and as seen in many of these swords, this sword has a lead “filling” in a deep casting flaw or hole, in one side of the cross guard. The sword has a straight, double-edged blade with a single, un-stopped fuller; the blade is unmarked. The brass hilt, pommel and cross guard were cast as one integral unit which was then affixed to the blade; as the hilt is not riveted, like the U.S. M1832, heavy artillery, short sword produced by Ames, there is a slight wobble when gripping the hilt. The brass hilt evidences a high copper content. Both the blade and hilt remain in overall, very good condition; the very tip end of the blade apparently snapped off, in the time of original use. These swords, produced at the onset of the Civil War, were based on the U.S. Model 1832, which was based on the French Model 1816, which was based on the ancient Roman gladius.

Measurements: Overall length – 23.5”; blade length – 18”