Civil War Model 1840 Cavalry Officer’s Saber

Civil War Model 1840 Cavalry Officer’s Saber – This well-crafted M1840 Heavy Cavalry officer’s saber remains in overall excellent condition. The only maker’s mark or stamp is a small keystone on one side of the ricasso; research indicates that the well-known Trenton, New Jersey sword manufacturer Emerson and Silver, stamped a small keystone on some of their swords’ ricassos, most notably some 5,000 blades made for the Philadelphia firm of Horstmann. These keystone marked blades appear to date to the 1862 – 1863 period and mostly on M1840 style, heavy cavalry sabers; the swords are unmarked with the exception of the diminutive keystone stamping. The blade is engraved – on one side is an American eagle with a riband in its beak on which is the motto: “E Pluribus Unum”; additionally floral elements appear on either side of the eagle; on the other side of the blade is engraved a large “US” surrounded by thirteen stars, with floral motifs on either side of the US. The blade has no nicks or scratches and retains a smooth off-gray finish. The scabbard is nickeled steel, with brass mounts and rings, brass throat and drag – both the throat and the drag have simple, decorative notches cut into them, on both sides of the scabbard; the drag appears to be missing the small attachment screw; there is no washer where the blade enters the hilt nor does it appear to have ever had one. The quillon, knuckle bow and pommel cap all have raised, cast decorative elements. The grip wrap is rayfin or shagreen with a single strand of tightly twisted, gilded, brass wire in the furrows. This is an excellent example of a Civil War period, cavalry officer’s saber.