Swords & Blades

Outstanding ID'ed and Ultra-Rare 1859-Dated Ames (What Would Become M1860) Cavalry Sword & Scabbard

Only 2400 of These Made in 1859

ID'ed in Belonging to Private Gilbert R. Geslin, Company E, 195th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

INCLUDES Pvt. Geslin's Original CDV (Signed By Geslin), Original Military Discharge, Copy of His "Oath of Identity"

Full Notarized Letter From The Horse Soldier (October, 2007) Certifying Authenticity and Provenance

Wow!  This is a LOT of history and rarity all rolled into a fantastic grouping!  So much to describe, but let's begin--I have to start with the sword & scabbard: it is an ultra-rare 1859-dated Ames Light Cavalry Sword & Scabbard--being one of only 2400 made that year.  It is what would become in the following year a "Model 1860" Light Cavalry Saber.  The US government contracted Ames in 1857 to "design and manufacture" a "new pattern" saber for the US Cavalry branch--one that would be lighter than its predecessor, the "Heavy" Cavalry M1840 (aka "Wristbreaker") sword.  So, this is a Model 1860 sword here--but before it had the honor of being the accepted Government Model, coming from the original "design" batch/contract that was ordered by the US Government in 1857!  Better yet, it was the belonging of Private Gilbert, R. Geslin of Company E, 195th Ohio Infantry, coming with his original and personally-signed CDV, his original discharge certificate, and copy of his original "Oath of Identity" certificate.  The grouping from the Geslin family came through the renowned "Horse Soldier" Civil War Antiquities Shop, and is accompanied by their original notarized and fully-documented letter of authenticity and provenance when they originally sold it last October (2007)---see the many pics below.  This paperwork shall clearly accompany the pieces to it's future owner.  Gilbert Geslin was a young farmer from Muskingum, Ohio (born 1847), and volunteered for service when he finally turned 18 in 1865.  He enlisted on January 23, 1865 in Zanesville, Ohio, for a 1-year enlistment (and received a handsome $100 bounty!  Might as well fight for "country" and money!)  On March 15th, he had taken severely ill, being sent to Camp Chase Hospital, and it was reported that ,"...he was attacked with severe cold and lung fever set in which followed by rheumatism and neuralgia..."  He would later be diagnosed with pneumonia at Tripler US Hospital in Columbus, and finally being discharged on May 25, 1865, due to his poor health (and the war being over for combat service).  Though he never saw combat--and spent a very short stint in the US army--he did actively participate with GAR Post 140 in Logan, Ohio, and somehow came into possession of this wonderfully rare sword.  Perhaps a GAR Post war-trophy?  Who knows.

The sword is in very good condition, excepting the the original wire is completely missing.  Sure--there are a lot of people out there who would quickly get it re-wired (and bump-up the value dramatically), but I am a historical "purist" at heart, and will leave that up to the future owner.  The Ames maker-marking is complete & visible, though light, but the "US  G.G.S.  1859" is crystal clear and fully legible.  The original wrap is worn, but still displays beautifully--again, a re-wiring utilizing original brass twisted wire would be a great enhancement to any sword enthusiast, but you fellow historical provenance "purists" like me may wish to leave it untouched "as it was found."  The blade is an untouched, uncleaned metal-gray patina with virtually no nicks or scratches.  The original scabbard is gorgeous--untouched dark, smooth, even patina.  The sword fits it perfectly.  Geslin's civilian CDV has a clear image, with nice "M'Cormick's Gallery  Logan, Ohio" backmark.  His original discharge (again, due to his health) remains intact and very legible, though like most surviving paper documents of that era, needs to be handled with care (it has some side-bracing to keep it straight and intact.)  Also included is a copy of his original "Oath of Identity" that the family passed along with his grouping to complete the provenance.

Cool history, ID'ed, and a fantastically-rare original Ames 1859-dated sword & scabbard to boot...

Sale Pending

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Wonderful All-Original, Untouched Confederate Haiman Brothers (Columbus, Georgia) Cavalry Sword & Scabbard

Confederate-made blades are always one of the most appealing and collectable pieces of Civil War antiquity, having the great allure and "romance" entwined into their rare status.  The struggling Confederacy employed what production capacity and raw material they had to feed the tremendous demand for their war-effort, though their quality and quantity were distinctly lower by all other sword standards.  Louis & Elijah Haiman ran one of the largest (if not the largest) Southern sword-making facility during the war, out of truly one of the South's largest industrial war "complex" of Columbus, Georgia.  This specimen offered here has all the classic Haiman traits and attributes, and makes for an outstanding representative example of the type: it is the enlisted man's style cavalry saber & scabbard, having the original iron wire and tarred canvas wrap present, with the wrap being almost entirely intact (some minor fraying at the ends, for example), but as you can see in the photo's below, very sturdy and pretty.  Painted cloth/canvas became a stable substitute for leather in the Confederacy as the war dragged on, and Columbus, Georgia makers employed the ever-ready quantities of cotton for the cloth to make painted-canvas accouterments (cap boxes, cartridge boxes, belt, sword-wraps, haversacks, etc). The 34 1/2 inch single-fullered blade has a smooth grey patina with scattered staining and some light peppering, as to be expected. Original Confederate-manufacture tool marks and blade faults are clearly evident upon the piece. No mentionable nicks or sharpening to be seen anywhere at all.  The classic lap-seamed scabbard has a nice untouched patina, as do the copper ring mounts and iron drag. The small Roman Numeral "X" appears on the pommel cap.  There is no guide on the throat.  A wonderful displaying and honest example of a classic Confederate-made sword, and "righteous" in every way.

Sale Pending

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Phenomenal Battlefield Pick-Up French Model 1840 Imported Artillery Saber & Scabbard From The Battle For Atlanta

Coming From Steve Mullinax Collection, w/Letter of Authenticity & Description By Larry Hicklen (Middle Tennessee Relics)

Anyone who peruses my website on a routine basis knows of my affinity with battlefield pick-up weapons, or dug weapons.  There is something so intriguing about the early battlefield picked-up "relics" that the locals (and many out-of-town visitors and aged veterans returning to the bloody fields of their youth) would find and stow away.  These kinds of artifacts littered the landscape of the South for so many years, by almost uncountable quantities.  Yet what was once "old rusty junk" strewn across the old battle sites and campgrounds to be commonly found have become so very rare and precious few surviving today.  This piece is a wonderful example of a long-lost sword found from the Battle for Atlanta.  It is a French-made Model 1840 Artillery saber and scabbard, both being in very good "pick-up" condition.  Obviously, it never stayed outside too long after the war, as the scabbard is still solidly intact (not rusted through anywhere), and the blade retains much of it's steel patina.  Coupled with the early-found status, the saber must have been in the scabbard when lost, as the scabbard helped to protect it from moisture and corrosive effects.  The French Chatellerault maker's mark and date of "1843" can be clearly seen upon the spine of the blade.  Though the original wooden handle has long rotted away (or cracked-off sitting outside in the open after the battle and war), the piece is in excellent "pick-up" condition, and makes for a most historic battlefield display piece from arguably the most critical campaign and battles affecting the outcome of the war.  After all, if Atlanta had held, and Sherman faced great defeat, Lincoln--by his own admission--expected to lose the election that fall in 1864, and thus a Democrat President McClellan would have signed for peace with the south.  Coming with the original letter of sale and authenticity from Larry Hicklen in 2007 to the original buyer, this piece also carries the honor and distinction of coming from one of the most renown collectors and authorities in the business--Steve Mullinax.

Sale Pending

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Exceptionally Rare Leech & Rigdon-Made Fighting Knife

Outstanding Battlefield Pick-Up Find from the Historic Battle of Nashville

Here's an item you will rarely see ever, and to be an actual battlefield picked-up relic from the Battle of Nashville, it is one-of-a-kind, indeed.  This is an exceptionally rare side-knife/fighting knife, being made of all cast-iron construction, and attributed to the famous Confederate manufacturing company of Leech & Rigdon.  Starting their company as Memphis Novelty Works within Memphis, Tennessee, they quickly had to move their operations elsewhere during the early stages of the war, as Memphis and other localities they would relocate to, were threatened by the oncoming Yankee armies.  It is a classic example of Southern simplicity of design and manufacture.  Utilizing merely all cast iron to produce, and having a very utilitarian form of design, it is an archetypical specimen of Confederate craftsmanship.  Only a handful like this are known to exist.  The handle measures 5.25" long, and the blade itself measures 6.25" long.  Total length is 11.5" long.  The iron on the blade is clearly in original condition, with no pitting whatsoever, as you can see in the photo's below.  It must have been within a scabbard/sheath when it was lost upon the wreckage-strewn Nashville battlefield, and thus protected the iron perfectly.  The exposed handle has only the most minor ground action from being exposed to the elements for some years on the ground, but in still in very good "pick-up" condition.  The very small point at the tip has broken off--only about an 1/8" of that very tip is missing.  This piece was within the personal collection of the world-renown Civil War collector Mr. Bill Beard for many years, who was an ardent collector of all things made by Leech & Rigdon/Memphis Novelty Works.  His very old tag is still on the piece.  A copy of the recent appraisal by top Civil War dealer Will Gorges shall accompany this piece to its new owner. 

$1750

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