Sword Bayonet for a Model 1863 Remington Rifle (Zouave)
There were several Union units during the civil war that were known as Zouave. Their uniforms were quite flamboyant and brightly colored. These units were generally from affluent regions where the very best equipment could be privately purchased for the members. These well made sword bayonets were fitted to the Model 1863 Remington rifle considered to be the finest long gun available.
Fashioned from a design of an ancient roman gladiators sword the French Model 1816 artillery sword was the inspiration for this Model 1832 . Originally meant for artillery officers and NCOs they were also issued to Infantry NCOs until the more modern Model 1840 Model NCO sword. The use of this 1832 model continued through the civil war due to its use as a means of taking down horses during a cavalry attack. The opposing armys cavalry was the artillerys biggest enemy.
Ames Model 1832 Foot Artillery Sword
Early .69 Cal. US marked bayonet used with the 1842 Springfield design musket.
Model 1842 .69 Cal. Bayonet W/ Gaylord Scabbard
Bayonet and scabbard for a Model 1861 Springfield .58 Cal. Musket. This was the mainstay of the union forces.
Model 1861 .58 Cal. Bayonet W/ Gaylord Scabbard
Well used Mansfield and Lamb Cavalry Saber. The scabbard has been lost to time. Typical of the Model 1860 Light Cavalry saber that replaced the heavier Model 1840 "wristbreaker" design.
Mansfield and Lamb Model 1860 Light Cavalry Saber
This Emerson and Silver sword would appear to be a musicians sword at first glance. However, it is in fact an NCO sword that has been modified to appear like a musicians sword. Were it not for the blade lenght it would have had this writer fooled. For those who enjoy speculation it is fun to envision a swordless musician performing a battlefield pick up and cutting the wrist guard off then filing it down to simulate a piece he was authorized to wear. Although the difference in lenght would have given him away when standing next to a soldier with a proper lenght sword.
Model 1840 NCO Sword modified to a Musician Sword (Interesting)
Inscribed Model 1850 Staff and Field Officers Sword
Many of the finest civil war blades were manufactured in Europe. This Klingenthal sword shows the high attention to quality expected from this manufacturer. Inscribed to Capt Eli Kinsley of the 27th Mass. Inf. Capt Kinsley was regimental adjutant which qualified him to wear a Staff and Field officers sword at the rank of Captain when a rank of Major or higher was required most of the time.
JBA stands for J. B. Allere, Chicago. They were a jewelry dealer that also sold swords. It is believed that the T at the base of the blade stands for Tomes,Son and Melvain a sword manufacturer in Chicago. It is also speculated that Roby sold surplus blades to Tomes and may also have sold blades to JB Allere direct. Whether JBA manufactured the swords or purchased them from another firm the fact remains that these are one of the rarest sword markings out there. Thillman states in his book that there may be less than 12 known examples out there. This sword came from an Arkansas estate
Rare JBA Model 1860 Light Cavalry Sabre
The Ames sword company of Chicopee, Mass. was a major player in acquiring government military contracts during the Civil War. The Non commissioned officers with the rank of Sergeant of higher were authorized to wear these. This 1963 dated sword shows signs of field use and then well cared for after the war.
Ames Model 1840 NCO Sword 1863
Confederate Foot Officer Sword
This unmarked sword has all the earmarks of a confederate piece. The unstopped fuller is typical of southern manufactured swords. Some southern swords did have stopped fullers as well as northern swords are found with unstopped fuller so there is no hard fast rule to determine origin if unmarked which most southern ones were not. Purchased from the Ed McNeese collection.
Mansfield and Lamb Model 1860 Light Cavalry Saber W/ Scabbard
Another Mansfield and Lamb model 1860 light artillery saber. This one has the steel scabbard. Cavalry swords were issued with steel scabbards because the leather scabbards produced during the war would not stand up to the abuse imposed on them during hard rides. This standard was adopted by all military branches to personnel on horseback. Came from an estate in Mt. Jackson, Va. next to the Newmarket battlefield.
Unmarked Model 1860 Staff and Field Officers Sword
The Model 1860 Staff and Field Officers sword was approved for use by senior grade officers in 1860 although it was not made mandatory until 1872. During the Civil War most officers were so used to their more substantial Model 1850 sword so most did not switch to this sword. The rare Ridabock and Co. sword pictured here is believed to be an NCO version due to the lack of a rear counter guard.
Ames Model 1860 Naval Cutlass
Ames Naval Cutlass Model 1860 manufactured in 1862. The US Ordinance Dept. required Ames to serialize the approximate 25,000 sword issued of this style. The serial number was stamped on the wrist guard on two lines. The top line was up to 2 numbers and an M. The M meaning 1000. The second line was up to 3 numbers being 100's. This example is 8M/27, meaning it was the 80027 unit manufactured.
Extremely rare Collins and Co. Musicians sword. In John Thillmann's book "Civil War Army Swords" on page 202 he writes. "Not much is known of the Collins swords except that very few NCO examples are observed and only one Musician's example known to the author". That one example is known to have an 1861 date. This example is dated 1862 which means it is an additional example to the one mentioned in Thillmann's book.
Collins and Co. Musicians sword
Model 1860 Foot Officers Sword
Model 1860 Foot Officers sword belonging to 1Lt Joseph Wight of Sebago, Maine. This early 1861 Ames sword was carried by the officer as a company commander in the hard fought 5th Me. VMM through most of the battles of the Army of the Potomac to include 1st Bull Run, Gaines Mills, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Salem Heights, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Cold Harbor and of course the terrible campaign of the Bloody Angle at the Wilderness.
Lt. Wight survived the war and spent the remainder of his life raising his 7 children with his wife Elizabeth Irish at the family farm in Gotham, Maine.
Capt. John Conley was in Command of Company H with the 16th Maine Infantry on July 1st 1863 at Gettysburg where they held their position alone against overwhelming odds to allow the rest of the Union Army to retreat through the town. Capt Conley was one of only 35 of the regt to report for duty that evening at Culps Hill. Capt. Conley was reported as a POW at Weldon Railroad and was exchanged in 1865. This sword was presented to him by his men at his return to the regiment.
1864 Dated Model 1860 Cavalry Sabre presented to Capt John Conley of the 16th Maine Inf.
Col. George F. Shepley Sword 12th Maine Inf.
Brig. Gen. George Foster Shepley was born in Saco Maine, Jan 1st 1819. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1837, and after studying law at Harvard Law School he began practice in Bangor Me. In 1844 he moved his practice to Portland. In 1850 he was elected to the state senate and from 1853 to June 1861, he was U S district attorney for the state of Maine having been appointed to that office by President Pierce and continued in that position under president Buchanan. In the Autumn of 1861 he became Colonel of the 12th Maine Vol. Inf. with which he arrived at Ships Island in Feb 1862. He was then placed in command of the 3rd Brigade and on occupation of New Orleans was made military commander of that city. In June 1862 he was made military Governor of Louisianna and in July was made Brig. Gen. of volunteers. After the inauguration of a civil governor of Louisiana, Gen. Shepley was placed in command of the military district of Eastern Virginia. He later became chief of staff for Maj. Gen. Weitzel and for a short time during the absence of that officer was in command of the 25th Army Corp. He continued with the Army of the James until the end of the war and with entry into Richmond was made the first military governor of that city. He resigned his commission on July 1st, 1865 and in 1866 was elected as a republican to the Maine legislature.In 1869 he was appointed United States circuit judge for the 1st district in which position he continued until his death on July 28th, 1878.
This sword was an early presentation of a high grade Klingenthal sword given by members of the Cumberland County, Maine Bar association of which he was a member.
Capt John B. Cook was a Lewiston, Maine resident when he enlisted as a Sgt. in the 1st Me. Inf. He was commissioned into the 7th Me Inf. on 8/21/1861. He was severely woul=nded in the leg in the ill fated charge on confederate positions at Antietam on 9/17/1862 where he commanded Co. K. Capt. Cook remained with the unit until he was discharged in 1864. He carried this well worn sword through all most of the pitched battles of the Army of the Potomac to include. Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Bristoe Campaign, Mine Run, The Wilderness, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Cold Harbor and Petersburg.
Capt John B. Cook Sword
Presentation Cavalry sword belonging to Capt. Samuel Libby who served in the famed 27th Maine Infantry, the Medal of Honor Regt. He served as a 1st Lt. for the entire 9 month service of the unit. He then enlisted in the 2nd Maine Cavalry as a veteran volunteer. The entire unit was intended to be made up of veterans but enlistments fell far below expectations so first time enlistments were accepted to fill the roster. The Veteran Volunteer designation was never dropped from the regimental name.
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This highly ornate sword has a Tiffany hilt with a Collins and Co. blade. The etching on the blade is not identified as a Tiffany etching so it is believed the etching was performed by either Collins or a 3rd party.
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It is likely Tiffany and Co. assembled this sword as Collins was not known as assemblers but more of a wholesale blade provider. Many Tiffany sword have the Collins blades as they were considered the finest blades manufactured in America.
Samuel Libby Cavalry Sword
