Swords & Blades

"MINTY" CS Boyle & Gamble of Richmond, VA Foot Officer's Sword & Scabbard

Phenomenal, 100% Untouched, Original & Complete, in Extraordinary Condition

100% INTACT ORIGINAL Wire & Wrap!

KILLER Patina on the Blade, Scabbard, & Hilt

Scabbard Appears to be a "Textbook" Example of a Griswold of New Orleans Iron-Mounted Scabbard (this would be the 4th I've ever seen), with Classic Crude Mold/Lap Seam Down the ENTIRE Length of the Scabbard--the Drag is the CLASSIC Griswold-made/shaped/formed Drag, and Fits SNUG!

NO Pitting, NOT EVEN A NICK or "Flea-Bite" to the Full-Length Blade!

Now THIS is a Boyle & Gamble Foot Officer's Sword that honestly--I don't think you can find another in BETTER overall complete condition!  It's the BEST I'VE EVER HAD, let alone SEEN!  The original wire and wrap are 100% ORIGINAL, UNTOUCHED, COMPLETE, with only the most minor wear and true, honest field and service bumps or bruises--and the patina of the BRASS sand-casted, floral-motif guard, the dark/mellowed metal patina that is "ATTIC SUPER-FINE" frosty hue, with the scabbard's equally "ATTIC SUPER-FINE" dark brown even patina with the classic crude mold/lap seam ALL the WAY DOWN the scabbard!  There isn't even a NICK or even "flea-bite" to the GORGEOUS full-length 29.25" Blade with NO PITTING WHATSOEVER, and the smoothest metal surface and smoother-still frosty-dark patina with the unstopped fuller.  There is NO DAMAGE AT ALL to the BEAUTIFUL sand-cast flora-motif basket, with the classic minor "inclusions" and minor casting flaws--all you KNOW and EXPECT from a CS-made piece, even though Boyle & Gamble of Richmond, Virginia, were noted for their QUALITY of production. The ORIGINAL LEATHER WRAP and small single-strand brass-wire are PHENOMENAL, given that this piece clearly WAS ISSUED and USED in the field (which you can see some nicks and bumps in the handle, the brass hilt, and to the scabbard--the USUAL "anti-rattle" ding/crease!)  Just LOOK at ALL the SUPER-FINE PICTURES BELOW....YOU'LL SEE WHAT I MEAN!  What REALLY had me "thrown for a loop" when I first laid eyes on it was the scabbard--which I immediately thought the sword had to be a Griswold of New Orleans-made CS sword--except the handle's form/shape was definitely NOT a Griswold!  I've seen 3 other IRON-MOUNTED Griswold scabbard IDENTICAL to this one--and the "dead-give-away" is the LARGE and LONG lap seam, without a throat, but the TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE DRAG shape/form that is MOST DISTINCTIVE.  Just look at any CS reference book that shows a close-up to the Griswold's classic drag, and it's DEAD-ON!  (Mr. Shannon Pritchard's "Collecting the Confederacy" has a great shot of the Griswold drag.)  Yet, the 100%, NO-DOUBT Boyle & Gamble SWORD fits the scabbard TIGHT as a DRUM!  So I'm still rather bemused whether it's a Griswold scabbard to the Boyle and Gamble sword...or some Boyle & Gamble scabbard (!?!?!)  In EITHER CASE--it's 100% CONFEDERATE, 100% ORIGINAL, and 100% EXCEPTIONAL in it's SUPERB "ATTIC-FINE ++" condition.  ALL I had to do to it was lightly wipe the blade and scabbard with a light wipe of oil,, use the WORLD'S FINEST "By Order of Her Majesty--the Queen of England", British-made Micro-Crystalline Wax on the leather wrap (and wipe-down the brass guard/hilt), and she's SHOWROOM READY!!!

And BEST OF ALL...IF you find one better, you'd have to PAY THOUSANDS MORE to get it---IF you EVER find a better one!

$3798  Sale Pending

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Fantastic US Model Dragoon Officer's/Mounted Artillery Officer's Sword & Scabbard !!!

Coming from the Renowned 30+ Year Collector/Appraiser, Dr. Jared Reeves

STRAIGHT out of Texas!!  And being an 1830's/1840's model Officer's (Mounted Dragoons or Artillery), this BEAUTY could have been at the Alamo/San Jacinto in Texas War for Independence, to Buena Vista and Monterey in the Mexican War, and "Whistle Dixie" and "Yellow Rose of Texas" for the BIG ONE starting in 1861! 

Excellent VISIBLE GOLD-ETCHING Intact with some Blade Bluing

God bless my most dear, close friend--the RENOWNED Dr. Jared Reeves, 30+ year antique militaria collector and appraiser--for not only is a a true best friend and "brother" like I've never had before...but ALL THE WICKED, KILLER PIECES he brings to consign and sell!  This is is about the BEST, truly ISSUED and USED IN THE FIELD of FIRE, US Model Dragoon Officer's/Mounted Artillery Officer's sword and scabbard!  Everything is 100% ORIGINAL, 100% UN-TOUCHED, and 100% GORGEOUS, given it's "veteran status"!!!  Coming out of TEXAS, this circa 1830's-1840's US regulation mounted officer's sword could have literally seen THREE WARS!!! Whether through the Texas War for Independence, the Mexican War, and then the OBVIOUS use in "THE BIG ONE" starting in 1861, this beauty shows only the most minor field and service wear--TO PROVE she saw action--but is absolutely GORGEOUS and INTACT!  Usually the polished, finely-engraved bone/whale's-tooth handle is CRACKED at best, and almost always CHIPPED/DAMAGED in some form, grotesquely taking away the BEAUTIFUL "eye-appeal" to this most FINELY-CRAFTED Officer's sword!  It has a BRASS GUARD (most standard-issue models had IRON) and the lagnets are PERFECT!  And YES, even the ORIGINAL GOLD-WASHED engravings n BOTH SIDES of the blade are 100% VIVIDLY LEGIBLE and still highlighted with their gold-wash and the fading original blade-bluing that highlights them PERFECTLY!!  From the crossed cannon/flags/drum motif, to the Horn/Shield/Shield motif, to the flowery vine motif--they are ALL CRISP and VIVIDLY SEEN!  The original leather scabbard is FANTASTIC in it's original finish, silvered scabbard throat with arced design, but does have the drag of the scabbard "Missing-In-Action", which YET AGAIN PROVES that it saw REAL field and service action, for that flimsy-held scabbard drag is ALWAYS the FIRST TO "GO" on these leather Dragoon/Mounted Artillery Officer models of this type (the WIDE-ARCING curvature of this MASSIVE 33.5" saber INTENDED by this sweeping, arcing design to make the MOST DEADLY slashing effect against their foe, also causes taking it in-and-out so much to "POP" that scabbard drag off!)  The blade has the most pleasing appeal, with gently-faded original bluing, that also morphs with the softening of the bluing into a lighter, grayish hue.

A MOST SPLENDID EXAMPLE of a Dragoon/Mounted Artillery Officer's sword and original scabbard as you can find AT THIS PRICE!  And ALL the TEXAS "HERITAGE" and coming from Dr. Reeves' renowned collection is ALL FREE--and certainly adds the Texas "sizzle" to it!

$950  Sale Pending

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Exceptionally Rare & Gorgeous CS College Hill Arsenal Cavalry Officer's Sword

Stunningly Beautiful, 100% ORIGINAL, Spectacular UNTOUCHED Specimen

Coming FRESH from the Mississippi Estate of the Cotton Family--Prominent Confederate Ancestry

Without question, being one of the rarest and most desirable Confederate-made swords, any College Hill Arsenal/Nashville Plow Works sword carries a special place in every Confederate collector's heart.  I rarely get so enthralled with any item--especially Confederate swords.  Not that I don't like them, because I'm as true-blue Johnny Reb as the next Southern collector!  But few items really take sway over me.  This one REALLY put me "under the spell".  Any piece that can cause that effect upon me--such that I "fall in-love with it"--obviously has a lot going for it!  This is the Cavalry Officer's version of the "College Hill Arsenal" sword.  I put that name in parenthesis, as there is a modern divergence of opinion and belief by some "experts" in the field of Confederate swords, as to whether this is truly a College Hill Arsenal made piece, or actually a Nashville Plow Works piece made FOR College Hill Arsenal to retail for sale.  This specimen, for example, has the iron back-strap and the Nashville Plow Works style basket--but not having the Nashville Plow Works name--so it is clearly a product that was at the very least, made FOR the College Hill Arsenal.  Whether it was originally made by L. T. Cunningham (owner of College Hill Arsenal), or through Sharp & Hamilton (Nashville Plow Works), is what is debated today.  We know historically that Nashville Plow Works ran into some legal/operating "issues," and would later have some production for College Hill Arsenal, so that these are universally accepted that these specific specimens were definitely at the very least retailed/sold through the College Hill Arsenal by L. T. Cunningham.  Cunningham of College Hill Arsenal would later use the Plow Works counter guard with his later products.  Therefore, as such collectors, authorities, and aficionados as Shannon Pritchard describe at length (in his masterful "Collecting the Confederacy" book), this sword may more accurately be described as a "Plow Works College Hill contract sword."  (Page 243).

What is so special about this specimen in particular is that it is among the rarest of any of the Nashville-area made swords, regardless of being "College Hill" or "Plow Works"!  You'll find at least 8 to 10 true "Nashville Plow Works" swords for every "College Hill" specimen--and as you know, ANY of these swords produced in the city of Nashville are so infinitely rare!  Sword production in Nashville area for the Confederacy only lasted not even a YEAR, as Nashville would fall to the Federals after the fall of Fort Donelson in February, 1862.  This specimen offered for sale here is also a very late production piece, given a couple of traits.  Being that the back strap is not brass (as earlier-made specimens, when brass was more plentiful) and that the blade is not affixed with the more commonly seen screw-on cap, but simply "peened," it's obviously among the later/last production specimens.  The brass guard with those beautiful, magical "CSA" letters raised upon the outer face of the guard are seen so beautifully clear.  The abundant and ever-present crude sand-casting flaws are everywhere--no wax-molded fake crap here, my friends.  You can see the rough wet sand casting flaws clear as day everywhere, including specs of some of the sand from the mold still stuck into that higher copper-content Confederate brass!  Just splendid.  To every dealer/collector I've shown, it is acknowledged for the beautiful, all-original College Hill Cavalry Officer's saber that it is.  No damage.  No repairs.  No "monkey-business".  As usual, the extraordinarily thin twisted copper wire is missing (being so thin and rather "chincy," you rarely see any wiring intact, since they came off so very easily), and no wrap remaining (again, so very common and expected).  You can see a few of the thin copper wires peeking from under the iron backstrap.  The polished grip is beautifully present, and really displays magnificently.  One could EASILY have a professional sword restorationists re-wrap and re-wire the piece--and even make a perfect reproduction scabbard, if you choose.  I simply did not want to "mess with" this piece--I love it the way it is, being a purist at heart.  All it really needs is a good cleaning to get the old coats of grime and linseed oil off of it, and she's as beautiful as you'll ever hope to find.  The blade is full-length, and TIGHT with the handle.  Only one tiny nick in the blade--that is IT!  It has the coolest looking crude light filing marks barely seen on a couple small areas, and clearly appear to be original finishing filing marks in just a couple of small areas.  It has NOT been sharpened, cleaned, or touched in any way.  The curved blade measures 33.5" long (along the top spine and curvature), being 100% full-length.

The FINAL most ALLURING fact regarding this piece is that I acquired it from the prominent Cotton family estate near my BELOVED CHAMPION HILL!  The "Cotton" family of Edwards, Mississippi, and their kinfolk stretching from Jackson to Vicksburg, ALL FOUGHT for Mississippi, either in the infantry or cavalry--including two officers!  It is NOT KNOWN WHICH of them carried this sword--but we at least KNOW it was carried by one of them during the war, and brought it home--and now can be yours!   If only it could talk and tell us the tales of war, fighting, killing, and suffering.  I guess that's why Rebel steel is so valuable!  Just go ahead and try to find another College Hill (or Plow Works, for that matter) any cheaper, and in such fine, beautiful condition as this.  And here at Champion Hill Relics, you don't get a few, small, dark-shaded, fuzzy pictures to really peruse and judge our pieces.  Enjoy the many pics!

$9,595  Sale Pending

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THE BEST Haiman Brothers of Columbus, GA Produced CS Sword I've Ever HELD!

The Archetypical Haiman CS Sword of the South

BEST INTACT Original Wire & Wrap

Untouched Full-Length Blade, Killer Patina

So Fine, I didn't perform Wax Preservation on the Intact Original Wire and Wrap (not yet!)

I affirm to YOU this very moment, that this is THE FINEST specimen of the famous Haiman Brothers of Columbus, Georgia's MASSIVE Confederate Arsenal manufacturing and supply center I have EVER BEHELD.  PERIOD.  BAR-NONE.  EVERYTHING on this piece just completely blew me away.  I LIVED in Georgia for years...I've BEEN to Columbus for their museums...seen every battlefield in Georgia...helped performing preservation at the Georgia State Preservation Lab...been inside the "catacombs" of the Atlanta History Center--arguably the BEST and LARGEST depository of CS items outside of the Museum of the Confederacy--and I have NEVER held in my hands a finer example of a Haiman Brothers CS sword.  The original painted-canvas cloth wrap and original copper wire are 100% UNTOUCHED--I am DYING to perform the wax preservation application to the all-critical painted canvas wrap, which (being an organic material very susceptible to micro-organisms eating at it, low humidity to dry it out, or moisture to cause bacterial growth and moldy decay--and just SOMEONE getting to "excited" and mis-handling it!) It is solidly INTACT with NO "wear-through" spots, no tears or holes---just untouched Haiman cotton-canvas GLORY!   The UN-TOUCHED PEEN is solidly INTACT and TIGHT--you can even today still see the blacksmith's hammer-imprint peening the blade spine to the mount!  I WILL perform the wax preservation work to the grip--but I wanted YOU to see it in it's 150-year old UNTOUCHED CONDITION that is glorious to behold!  The classic 3-tine dark brass (higher copper content/lower zinc content), has the PERFECT UNTOUCHED patina of a piece that sat undisturbed for years after it's wartime service.  Same is true with the incredible blade condition and patina: NO DAMAGE...NO REPAIRS...PERFECT steely gray/brown solid hue to the entire blade ALL OVER and EVENLY throughout.  All I did was use "Her Majesty's Renaissance Crystalline Wax" (literally made BY ORDER of the QUEEN of ENGLAND, herself, to preserve the MILLIONS of POUNDS-worth of Royal Treasures and Antiquities!) on the blade (which is why you see the glare sometimes on the photography lighting, and other times it looks DARK as night in the lighting....photography is ALL about angles and lighting!)  NO NICKS NOR DINGS on this un-sharpened on this 35" blade.  Not even a "flea-bite"!!!  The "textbook" unstopped fuller, with the ricasso being forged from it's casting and smithing into somewhat of a "pinch" with the cruder finishing anomaly classic to the Haiman's (this one isn't as pronounced as others--look at 10 Haimans and you'll see the variation in the forging/finishing of the ricasso into the grip).  The classic 3-tine basket with the Haiman designed and finished trait of the recessed outer-facing hand-guard formed by the blacksmith after casting and finishing.  Being 40.5" in total length, this is without any exaggeration the FINEST Haiman Brothers of Columbus, Georgia-produced UNTOUCHED saber I have had the pleasure to hold--let alone to possess!

NO NEED to ever have to "upgrade"...never any need to "apologize" over this one.

ALWAYS get the BEST...NEVER settle for LESS!

Just wait and see what the grip looks like AFTER the crucial preservation wax-work--THIS MUST BE PRESERVED for GENERATIONS TO COME.  It is a PRICELESS and IRREPLACEABLE piece of our revered HISTORY...

$2598  Sale Pending

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Excellent Original Boyle & Gamble of Richmond Confederate Foot Officer's Saber

100% Original, Complete, Intact, Tight, & SWEET

Sweet Confederate COLD STEEL!  There isn't a Southerner alive who does NOT have his heart and mind stir at the sight of real Confederate COLD STEEL used in the War for Southern Independence.  And it certainly would excite any heart to see a GORGEOUS, 100% COMPLETE, ORIGINAL, and INTACT specimen like this one, produced by the famous Richmond-based makers of Boyle & Gamble.  It is a classic, archetypical Boyle & Gamble Foot Officer's saber, typical of their early-to-mid-war production, having the 2-tine guard (exactly as other known "officer models" made by other CS sword-makers), bulbous grip, twisted brass wire (later versions would be simple copper wiring as the war and resources available demanded quicker production and economy of materials), and the 100% ORIGINAL wrap to the ORIGINAL wire, and UNTOUCHED PEEN on top of the pommel.  The metal s the usual UNTOUCHED faded "steely", smoky gray patina with only the most minimal wear, NO SHARPENED EDGES, NO DAMAGE, and NO REPAIRS.  Light salt-n-pepper appearance on both sides of the blade, as expected--and again--UNTOUCHED.  No one has colored the steel or cleaned the brass.  I did a most professional and proper preservation to the fantastic original dark russet-brown leather wrap, utilizing "Her Majesty's Micro-Crystalline Wax" and Kramer's all-natural (no petro-chemicals, but all-natural essence of cedar, linseed oil, etc) in order to PROPERLY and PROFESSIONALLY preserve the organic leather for GENERATIONS to come.  Everything is deteriorating all the time--everything.  Simple light oil will preserve metal/brass...but organic materials like LEATHER require MORE.  Painstakingly, that was done to this original wrap so that it may endure for generations to come...to yet still teach to those in the future of the valiant struggle and sacrifices made during our country's most cataclysmic experience...to the death of over 1 million Americans (once you count civilians).  The blade is the typical 29" blade, with overall length of 34".

And it is THIS kind of QUALITY that you want to own...and pass DOWN for generations to come, with pride, and NO REGRET!

$2998  Sale Pending

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NOW ONLY $1898 !!!

KILLER RARE, Published, AND Coming from the Author's OWN COLLECTION!

The "Pott's" Bowie Knife/Bayonet, Made/Sold by Pott's, a Known Military Out-fitter in New Orleans, but Also Have Proof it was most-likely made by Rees Fitzpatrick out of Natchez, MS, and sold to Retailers

Coming from the Esteemed Author, Collector, and Acclaimed CS Bowie/Blade Authority, Mr. Lee Hadaway

THIS SPECIMEN is Pictured on Page 50-51 in His "Updated Confederate Bowie Knife Guide"

Also Have the Original Letter of Sale/Authenticity from Brian Akins, who sold the piece for Mr. Hadaway under consignment!

OH YEAH!  This ULTRA-RARE Southern BEAUTY will make you "REBEL YELL", "Whistle Dixie", and want to start another WAR!!!  THIS...IS....THE....BEST!  Why?  Because it was OWNED by the most renowned CS Bowie/Fighting Knife authority, Mr. Lee Hadaway, THEN PUBLISHED as seen on pages 50-51 of his seminal CS Bowie/Fighting Knife Book "The Updated Confederate Bowie Knife Guide", AND you get the original letter of sale/authenticity from Mr. Brian Akins, who sold it for Lee under consignment!  I also E-MAILED LEE--he's such a great guy and personal friend--and he confirmed it's THE BLADE FOR SURE!  And you can ASK HIM FOR YOURSELF!

Such a rare and so unique weapon, believed to have been physically produced by Rees Fitzpatrick of Natchez, Mississippi, then sold to local Southern retailers like Potts in New Orleans before it fell to the Federals in early 1862 (Potts was a RENOWNED military good's seller in New Orleans).  So cool is it's design and function BOTH as a hand-held MEAN fighting knife--but also to be fitted as a bayonet, as well!  Excellent ingenuity and optimization by making two separate weapons into one!  Total length is 17", with the clip-point blade of 12.25" long.  TOTALLY un-sharpened, NO REPAIRS, NO CLEANING, NO SHARPENING--completely ORIGINAL and UN-TOUCHED. 

Truly "MUSEUM" and "PUBLISHED" Confederate Quality!!!!  You get the Akins' letter as shown, and again--feel free to ask Lee Hadaway yourself!

Can you find ANOTHER PUBLISHED specimen anywhere THIS NICE at THIS PRICE!?!?  NOPE!!!  This is YOUR SHOT at this baby....sadly, the owner has to sell it (consignment), but YOU can have it now!

NOW ONLY $1898 !!!  Sale Pending/On Layaway

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The ONE and ONLY!  Published & Only Specimen!

South Carolina-MARKED and CS Conversion, Nathan Starr M1812 Cavalry Saber turned CS Bowie Fighting "D"-Guard Blade!!!

As Published in Mr. Lee Hadaway's "Must-Have" CS Bowie Knife Book, "The Updated Confederate Bowie Knife Guide"

No, suh....NO OTHER SPECIMEN IN EXISTENCE like THIS!  Impeccable authenticity, as being reviewed by the "Guru's" of all CS blades--and then PUBLISHED by one of them--my great friend Mr. Lee Hadaway, as seen within his seminal CS Bowie Knife Reference Guide book, "The Updated Confederate Bowie Bowie Knife Guide" (and if you DON'T HAVE ONE...I'VE GOT SOME TO SELL YOU!  YOU WILL BLESS and THANK ME for it!)  This literally 200-year old, 2-foot long COLD South Carolina STEEL is EVERYTHING you could EVER WANT in a CS "fighting knife", "Bowie Knife," or CS "D-Guard"!  Being originally a Nathan Starr made and maker-marked on the ricasso, it also bears the distinctive state arsenal ownership stamping (per the "1808 Militia Act") of "S. CAROLINA" as CLEAR as 200 years couldn't eradicate!  Given the sudden out-break of "total war" after Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers to "quell the rebellion in the cotton states," South Carolina--her PRIDE of being the FIRST to secede from the Union, and FIRST (though debated) to "fire the first shots" of the War (they indeed at least made the first BOMBARDMENT that caught the attention of Lincoln and the US!)--was desperate dusting-off ALL of her antiquated weaponry sitting in her dank arsenal racks.  ANYTHING was used--nothing wasted, as would be the case the entire war.  Thus, born of dire necessity, this then aged M1817 Cavalry Sword was cut-down into a PERFECT, right at 2-feet total length "D-Guard" Bowie knife by the South Carolina local CS authorities--or perhaps just an old veteran cavalryman who passed this blade down to his heir, and then HE took it to a local blacksmith and has it made thus.   Who knows!  We DO KNOW that it is 100% a CONFEDERATE CONVERSION JOB, and 100% SOUTH CAROLINA...and 100% GORGEOUS in all her 200 years of existence--and being the ONLY one in existence of her kind!  (Which would lend more credence to the theory that this was from a person/family member who took this, their old family sword, to a local blacksmith to have it done!) The basket/guard of the Nathan Starr made (and legibly-marked) cavalry saber made for a most "fanciful" D-Guard for whomever carried this GINORMOUS D-Guard Bowie Fighting Knife!  Untouched, and in the IDENTICAL CONDITION as when Mr. Hadaway pictured it for his book.

GOOD LUCK finding another...and anything like it...and ANYWHERE NEAR THIS PRICE!

AND Only $2098!  SOLD!!

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Tyler, Texas Arsenal RAREST of the RARE CS Saber Bayonet!

One of 331 Produced by the RAREST known CS Arsenal, and this being ONE of only a HANDFUL in EXISTENCE TODAY!

You are looking at the RAREST of the RARE when it comes not only to the RAREST CS Arsenal/Ordnance Works, but in CS-made bayonets...and a SABER BAYONET at that!  Dr. Murphy & Madaus clarified the once-thought Tredegar Iron Works bayonet as for what it truly is--a Tyler, Texas Ordnance Works crudest and rarest of all CS Arsenal-made bayonets!  Since SO FEW remain in existence, and given the utterly CRUDE, SIMPLISTIC production to the piece, it certainly is NOT anything from the quality that the Tredegar Iron Works EVER would have let out their doors!  Given all we DO KNOW about the Tyler, Texas Ordnance Works is this: WHATEVER they made, it was in the SMALLEST quantities, of the CRUDEST construction, with VERY FEW SURVIVING SPECIMENS.  We also have the surviving records for the production orders between November of 1863 through May 1864, where Tyler's Ordnance Works did produce these bayonets for their "Texas Rifles".  We also have the known sample submitted to the Texas Military Board--meeting all of their criteria for production of an IRON SABER BAYONET, and another specimen with a "Texas Rifle" (number "814) that essentially is identical to this and the other handful left in existence.  Like most EVERYTHING Tyler's Ordnance Works made...no two are "exactly alike"!!!  Being so crude, hand-produced in such small numbers, usually utilizing parts/pieces from other weapons to make their own "Texas Rifles" and other weaponry, this one 100% CONFORMS to the handful left in existence in the following ways: (1) it is a SINGLE-PIECE, IRON-CASTED Saber Bayonet, (2) has the MOST DISTINCTIVE "RIBBING" cast into the underside of the handle, (3) the barrel "O"-ring is bored-out, and (4) the spring catch is of the exact same sizing and placement on the right-side of the handle.  Most of the FEW REMAINING SPECIMENS do NOT have the spring catch intact....BUT THIS ONE DOES!!!  Some have a rather straight blade form, (as the one shown in Murphy & Madaus' "Confederate Rifles and Muskets" excellent reference book), while others have the identical contoured body of the blade such as this one, and the one documented in Mr. Shannon Pritchard's "Collecting the Confederacy" MOST EXCELLENT reference book (if you do NOT have THESE REFERENCE BOOKS...GO BUY THEM NOW!  You'll thank me later!!!).  Indeed, despite having the spring catch intact and fully-functional, the truly USELESS quillion has broken-off--which is yet another sign of Tyler's poor quality of production (and NOT the HIGH QUALITY of what Tredegar was accounted for!)

Good luck EVER SEEING ONE IN PERSON...let alone the CHANCE TO OWN ONE!

Sale Pending

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Monstrous, Killer Classic CS File-Blade D-Guard

RARE Maker-Marked "J. BAKER" Specimen

MASSIVE 14" Long, 2" Wide File-Blade Conversion, Gorgeous 1-Piece Lathed Handle, w/"Tooled" lines, and Total Length 19"

This is the END-OF-THE-ROAD, biggest bad-daddy classic CS crude file-blade conversion D-guards that you could EVER want.  And better yet, it is MAKER-MARKED by the blacksmith of "J. BAKER" -- which I contacted Mr. Lee Hadaway, author of "The Updated Confederate Bowie Knife Guide"--to which this particular blacksmith maker is not specifically known, but as documented within his book (there's another CS-made file-blade conversion D-Guard in his book with another local blacksmith's maker-mark of "S. POWER" within the blade in the exact same area of the blade like this specimen, seen on page 160 in his book), this is obviously as RARE as it gets, but is documented that a few makers did indeed mark their blades as such.  It has very good craftsmanship exhibited with the one-piece, rather fanciful lathed handle, which is "tooled" with decorative lines.  The D-guard itself runs from the quillion in one piece, all the way to the back, forming the pommel, with a classic UNTOUCHED peen of the blade's spine into the pommel.  The blade is 100% TIGHT, my friends!!!  The file-converted blade measures 14" long, 2" wide (tapering, obviously, at the point), with a total length of 19".  These classic Confederate-made file-blade made knives were born out of necessity of the rapid secession and war that both sides knew was coming--but once "it was on", they had NO IDEA on either side, how badly they would need weapons to arm themselves.  These classic "Bowie" knives--made famous by Jim Bowie at the Alamo--were a Southern and frontier CLASSIC side-knife of the day.  It was these MASSIVE "D"-guard blades that Confederates brandished off to war, is what would become iconic and legendary.  So many were demanded by eager Southern volunteers, that blacksmiths everywhere across the south, to state AND even official Confederate Arsenals would design, order, and produce a plethora of D-guards and other massive Confederate fighting knives that EVERY collector falls in love with, and has to have in their collection--whether just one, or DOZENS.

This is indeed the FINEST D-Guard I have personally ever owned, given the combination of its size, the fact it's a file-blade made specimen, AND an ULTRA-RARE MAKER-MARKED specimen.

AND...unlike other places where you'll see the price at $5,000 to $7,000....you don't have to pay that price here at Champion Hill Relics!

$2798  Sale Pending/Layaway

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THE FINEST of the Confederate FINE!

Ultra-Rare Leech & Rigdon "CS" in Guard, Etched Blade, Confederate Field & Staff Officer's Sword & Scabbard

A Truly "Museum-Quality" Original Specimen

It's really sad to see how the economy has really hurt people--and no "closer to home" than when you are able to acquire such MAGNIFICENT, ULTRA-RARE Confederate pieces such as this...but at prices where the seller "needs the CASH NOW!"  Bad for them...but good for YOU!  This particular specimen originally came through my great friend, Mr. David LaSlavic of "Arizona Swords"--yes, THE CS SWORD GURU dealer--you can even see in his "previously sold" section THIS VERY SPECIMEN!  This stunning original beauty, produced by what was the once pre-war "Memphis Novelty Works", but becoming simply the "Leech & Rigdon" company during the heart of the War, as the two owners had to move their operations from state-to-state to avoid the oncoming Federals, is yet again a "Holy Grail" in the Confederate sword-collecting world.  And to find one THIS COMPLETE--THIS QUALITY, having the original wire and wrap 100% INTACT, the original scabbard INTACT and in incredible condition...I simply COULDN'T RESIST!  It is clearly one of the FINEST of these models of swords produced by Leech & Rigdon I have EVER SEEN!!!!  These encircled "CS" Field & Staff Officer models are unworldly rare to find EVER!  The beautiful brass on both the sword and the scabbard are stunningly beautiful.  The CLASSICALLY-CRUDE sand-casting of the guard (a floral motif, in the style of the US Model Foot Officer's Sword) is so "deliciously" CONFEDERATE!  YES--the ORIGINAL WIRE AND WRAP are 100% INTACT.  YES--the 29.5 long blade is entirely NICK-FREE...not even a "flea-bite"!!!!  It has the un-stopped blood-groove coming into the wrist, the fuller is the short-clipped by the ricasso, and the actual blade edge towards the ricasso is un-sharpened/flat for the first 7" or so--ALL of the "CS" Field & Staff model attributes.  The blade patina is a "smoky", yet still some of the original "polished" sheen to it from where you can see the faded blade etching.  The ONLY THING that has been done to this piece is that the brass throat to the scabbard came-off (the tiny pin that affixed it to the leather scabbard itself fell-out), so the throat had to be re-set with leather glue.  That's it!  You can't find ANY other facet that truly isn't mind-blowing about this killer specimen!  Even the original sword hanger rings are PRESENT!!!  The leather scabbard seem is 100% INTACT as well, and only a minor area where it "wrinkled" near the bottom by the drag--but ONLY a wrinkle---no weak spot in the leather scabbard AT ALL.  All that I had to do to the sword was use the other "museum-quality" (literally!) RENAISSANCE WAX, made truly--as it states--"By order of Her Majesty", the QUEEN of ENGLAND!--British-made crystalline wax that is used not only by EVERY British Museum on all things metal, wood, leather, etc, but literally made BY ORDER OF THE QUEEN HERSELF for use in preserving, enriching, and beautifying all Royal antiquities!

Find one BETTER for LESS!  Hit the auctions, and they won't even begin the bidding except at $15,000!!!!

$8598  Sale Pending/Layaway

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MUSEUM-QUALITY, "Holy Grail", and just a KILLER-RARE Confederate Officer's Sword

THE Haiman & Brother (of Columbus, GA) made CS Foot Officer's Sword & SCABBARD!

The Ultra-Scarce Foot Officer's Sword Model, having only 2-Tines (instead of 3 for Cavalry)

This is just as KILLER CONFEDERATE, COMPLETE, RARE & Spectacular as it gets!

I do admit it here on the website from time-to-time....I LOVE MY JOB!!!  I just wish I had the MONEY to KEEP pieces like this, instead of selling them!!!  My, oh my...it was "love at first sight" when I saw this baby.  I have literally only seen with my own two eyes, two other specimens for SALE before--and maybe only another 2 or 3 on display!  You won't find this RARE Haiman Foot Officer's sword in most museums OR the finest private collections!  And to have the ORIGINAL brass-mounted and throated scabbard with its classically CRUDE lap-seam???  Having the archetypical Haiman painted canvas cloth wrap and iron wire INTACT?  The "peen" untouched....the blade UN-SHARPENED and NOT A SINGLE DING?  Even the washer present???  THIS ONE HAS IT ALL.  Right from the start, the patina of the brass mountings, the iron untouched blade, the grip, the 2-tine basket (which distinguishes it from the 3-tine "common" cavalry officer's/cavalryman's blade), is just PERFECT!  Look at it yourself!  I've posted over 25 photo's of this STUNNING, RARE BEAUTY!  Louis and Elijah Haimen of Columbus, Georgia, ran one of largest (if not THE LARGEST) sword manufactory within the entire Confederacy during the War.  They, along with several other Columbus clothing and metal-working facilities, would become the nucleus to one of the South's LARGEST Arsenal/Depot, to which the "Columbus Depot" jackets were designed and produced, a variety of weapons and blades, small-arms ammunition, to every form of accouterments (well-known for their use of painted canvas instead of leather, as leather was more needed for horse-gear, and cotton was far more plentiful and just as good when painted for protection against the elements, and for strength.)  The 29.5" blade with the usual CS trait of the un-stopped fuller has the most eye-appealing, softly-grayed patina with no pitting, no cleaning, no sharpening, and NO DINGS.  I mean, I can't even see a "flea-bite" with my naked eye...maybe you might under intense magnification--or holding it so close you slit your eyes!  But it's THAT GOOD.  Best of all...the blade is TIGHT!!!  That being said, the 2-tine guard/basket does have a small "wobble" to it...but that's only being "picky"--and it's the only thing I can find to say this baby isn't "perfection-personified"!  You can fix THAT with ease (simple "shim" job), but I don't MESS with my pieces--I just wipe them down, picture them, list them (and DROOL over them!)  The "peen" on the pommel appears to NEVER have been touched since the day it was produced by Haiman--which only matches with the quality and fact that the entire sword and original scabbard seem sooooo "perfect"!  The wrap and wire are INTACT and TIGHT (some minor shrinkage...typical to find with age when it comes to cotton canvas and the wood handle underneath, AND with honest and true FIELD and SERVICE WEAR).  The brass 2-tine basket--and ALL the brass to the sword and scabbard--have the most scrumptious, uncleaned, mellowed patina you could EVER want.  The brass mountings and throat, with the iron attachment rigs, are TIGHT and again...just PERFECT!  The killer-crude CS trait of the sloppy lap seam to the scabbard is OUT OF SIGHT!  And there isn't any "ding" (like your typical scabbards do) on this baby!  NO pitting, NO rust-through holes...no, no, no!  It's all there, and IT IS ALL GOOD!

I love it.  I'm so blessed to have actually gotten my hands on one of these rare specimens--and moreover, one WITH the original scabbard AND in such phenomenal condition.  I'll let the many FINE pics below do the rest of the selling for me!!!  It's so nice when a piece IS SO NICE...I don't have to say much to SHOW and TELL just how GOOD IT IS!

$3898  Sale Pending/Under Layaway

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"Holy Grail" of Confederate Swords

THE College Hill Arsenal Field & Staff Officer's Sword, w/Etched Blade "CSA" & First National Confederate Flag & Floral Motif

100% ORIGINAL & COMPLETE

INTACT Original Wire & Wrap

Not Even a NICK or "Flea-Bite" on the Blade!

Coming from the Renowned Dr. Reeves' Collection

I can say that I have only seen with my own two eyes, TWO of these out of ALL the museums I have seen (so many museums, parks, archives---I couldn't possibly number them), and only another 2 in my time as a dealer.  The College Hill Arsenal Field & Staff Officer's sword is indeed a "HOLY GRAIL" of CS blades.  For one, they didn't even have a YEAR to produce these, physically!  Nashville became untenable to hold after the fall of Fort Donelson on February 16th, 1862, and was immediately abandoned.  Secondly, it was the owner of the College Hill Arsenal, Mr. L. T. Cunningham, who saw the beautiful "CSA" basket guard design of the Nashville Plow Works swords being produced, and acquired molds from Nashville Plow Works, obliterated the "NASHVILLE PLOW WORKS" from the die, and then produced their College Hill Arsenal version.  So, it was some time after NPW was producing theirs before Cunningham could see, "covet", and then acquire and copy their "CSA" basket guard design! 

AND THIS ONE is 100% COMPLETE and ORIGINAL...NO REPAIRS...NO LOOSE WIRING...NO SHARPENED BLADE....NO CLEANING to the BLADE NOR BASKET.  The original dark russet leather wrap is INTACT, with only the most minor wear to be seen.  All I've done to it is the proper, museum-quality conservation and beautification of the original russet leather wrap, by applying the WORLD ACCLAIMED, "By Order of Her Majesty", the Queen of England, Renaissance micro-crystalline wax, in order to help protect the organic leather for the ages, and I also wiped the same upon the blade.  Nothing more.  This was originally sold by my good friend, Mr. Nick Periut of Army of Tennessee Relics, to my dearest friend, and renowned 30+ year collector/appraiser of Civil War ephemera, Dr. Reeves--who is now selling this UNWORLDLY RARE BEAUTY!  As you can see in the many fine photo's below, it truly is "AS GOOD AS IT GETS!"  There are NO 100% KNOWN SCABBARDS for these (yes, one sword with fitting CS-made scabbard exist--but we can't prove it's THE "College Hill Arsenal" original made/mated scabbard for the sword!)  The Etching of both the "CSA" and the 1st Confederate National Flag are vividly clear--though their classic faint etching performed AT the TIME of PRODUCTION is the reason, and NOT from any pitting or wear.  Same is true with the flora motif on both sides of the blade--I'm sorry that the pics really don't SHOW the REAL appearance, which is better than I can photograph....the fluorescent, glare, tint, shadowing, focus, etc....it's the best I could do!  The "peen" is TIGHT, the wire is TIGHT, and the blade has only a minor wobble to it--anyone can shim it if they really get "nit-picky", but that's up to the future owner--everyone else is smart enough to leave this baby AS IS!  Total full original blade length of 31".  It bears the classically CRUDELY "clipped"/stopped fuller by the ricasso of the College Hill Arsenal specimens.  The blade patina has only minor wear and a "frosty" to "steely" grey appearance, and YES---not a NICK or even "flea-bite" on the blade's unsharpened, untouched edge!!!!  The GORGEOUSLY sand-casted "CSA" basket still has some of the original gold GILTING upon it!!!

Finest of the fine...and RAREST of the RARE!  Time to let the pictures do the rest of the talking for me....

$19,500  SOLD

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Unworldly Rare CS Double D-Guard Bowie Knife

Spectacular, and Only One of a Handful To Exist

Blade Length 11.25", Total Length 16.25"

Personally Inspected by CS Blade/Bowie Authority & Author, Mr. Lee Hadaway (His Latest Publication being "The Updated Confederate Bowie Knife Guide")

Straight Out Of Texas, Just as the One Mr. Hadaway Has Published (and a STRONG belief with other specimens coming out of Texas that these are mostly of Lone Star production!)

Let's start out by letting the words of a REAL CONFEDERATE BOWIE KNIFE EXPERT do the talking: as is written by Mr. Lee Hadaway in his "The Updated Confederate Bowie Knife Guide" on page 122, "Single D-Guards are very much sought after by collectors, so what does that say about a double D-Guard?  They are extremely rare and this one [the one he has pictured in his book] is the only example that I have actually held."  Until the current owner and consignor of THIS ONE had Mr. Hadaway hold it and inspect it at a recent Denver Show!  And a couple more have surfaced in the past several years...but literally, there are only a handful out in the collecting community, and you RARELY get a chance to actually BUY ONE!

This gorgeous specimen is indeed a 100% authentic Confederate-made double D-Guard Bowie knife--and as Mr. Hadaway noted in his book that his specimen came from Texas, SO TOO DOES THIS ONE!  It is believed that there is a Texas and North Carolina connection of provenance with the few specimens in existence.  The unsharpened, wide-blade measures 11.25" long, with the blade being exactly 2" wide at the ricasso.  The total length of this Bowie Confederate fighting knife is 16.25" long.  The gorgeous grip is solidly intact, as are the two D-guards and the blade.  Now....upon Mr. Hadaway's inspection, he is leery of the wooden handle, given that it is pine (though this alone does NOT mean it's not original to the Bowie knife), but that the "peen" (the bottom part of the blade spine that runs through and inside the wooden handle out the back of the handle and "peened" or hammered slightly to affix to the wooden grip) patina does not match the rest of the entire metal surface dark patina.  Truthfully, we will never know--the "real experts" are LONG DEAD and GONE.  Whoever made, carried, or had this knife since the Civil War ain't alive to tell us.  And yes, people can easily replace a handle on any knife or sword.  The handle certainly is beautiful, shows wear and some cracking and aging, so if it is a replaced handle, it's not a recent job!  And perhaps even one done during or slightly after the war.  Again, who knows...but I know Mr. Lee Hadaway...and I TRUST his expert opinion.  The piece has NO DAMAGE, and NO REPAIRS.  It's just a pure Confederate, rare, and Texas BEAUTY!

Thus, you have a KILLER RARE, KILLER Texas Double D-Guard Bowie that is priced to where any real Texas or CS Bowie collector can't refuse!

$2598  SOLD

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KILLER RARE Dewitt CS Field/Foot Officer's Sword

Ordered by the State of Georgia starting in 1861, Produced by A. H. Dewitt, a Jeweler in Columbus, Georgia

Ultra-Rare Non-"Snake" Pattern, the 1861 EARLY Production Specimens (only produced for a couple of months before being sold to Greenwood & Gray--read below about the incredible history & information!)

100% Authentic (inspected by Brian Akins), Original WIRE and ORIGINAL WRAP 100% INTACT, Beautiful Blade!

Indeed, one of the RAREST of Confederate-made swords--especially Officer Swords!--A. H. Dewitt was a pre-war jeweler in Columbus, Georgia when the war broke-out, and Governor Joe Brown contracted with Dewitt to produce copies of the US Model 1850 Foot Officer/Staff Officer swords for his state's Officers.  After a few short months of production, he sold his operation off to Greenwood & Gray in Columbus, GA--who were pre-war cotton warehousing firm, but became a prolific and multi-faceted producer of weapons and arms and accouterments to the Confederacy (J. P. Murray was the superintendent and would become FAMOUS for his ultra-rare "J. P. Murray" rifle, and L. Haiman & Brothers was 150 yards down the street, making his swords!)  But by May 1862, Dewitt had re-purchased/re-established a new 1862 contract for more production, which are the more well-know "snake" Dewitt Field/Foot Officer's Sword with the snakes in the basket design and head at the quillion's head.  These "non-snake" versions are believed to be the EARLY 1861 production specimens.  It is identical in almost every fashion, except the wreath basket design with "squiggly" marks don't have snake heads, nor does the same shaped quillion have the snake's eyes/mouth.  The pommel and the simple copper wiring is IDENTICAL to ALL Dewitt production in every form and facet of construction--again, which is why sword experts have noted these Dewitt patterns, and since so FEW are in existence, it is only logical to assume it was the hastily, small-batch production made in only the couple months of Dewitt's production in 1861, before selling to Greenwood & Gray (and THEN getting his contract/production BACK in May 1862).  The piece is 100% UNTOUCHED....GORGEOUS specimen.  The blade has the classic "smokey" gray patina, with only a couple "flea-bites" on the blade...that's IT!  The original throat washer is 100% INTACT!!!  The very good quality of brass used also points to 1861 production, as later "snake" Dewitt's have a HIGHER copper content/lower zinc (as zinc became far scarcer).  You can still see the classic sand-casting flaws in the molding of the basket, but truly is a very high-quality produced specimen compared to other far more CRUDELY made Confederate swords.  The wrap is about 95% solidly INTACT--only a couple minor wear-through spots which ONLY PROVES IT WAS ACTUALLY ISSUED AND USED!!!  It's fading from the black finish to the brown russet color.  Both the wrap and wire are 100% TIGHT and INTACT!!!  NO WOBBLE either, in the SOLIDLY attached blade!

As CHEAP as a "Dog River" Enlistedman's Cavalry Saber!!  But 1,000 times RARER!!!

$3198  SOLD

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The Original "MEMPHIS BELLE"!!!!

Killer-Rare, Very Early War Memphis Novelty Works by Thomas Leech & Company CS Cavalry Sword

One of the "Holy Grail" of ALL CS SWORDS...Period

Excellent CRISP Original 3-Line Marking upon Guard!

TIGHT Full Wrap, Copper Wire, Full-Length Blade!

This is the VERY FIRST of the Memphis Novelty Works/Thomas Leech & Company CS cavalry swords I have EVER had the pleasure to own.  WHY?!?  Because they are SO RARE to EVER SEE.  So few survived, given that Memphis fell so early in the War (early 1862 after Forts Donelson & Henry in February, 1862), and what few surviving specimens there are out there are HELD FIRM by their owners.  Only VERY FEW MUSEUMS even HAVE ONE OF THESE!  And when I did get a chance to even HOLD ONE....the price was just OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD!  However, given our current economic situation, a very few (and sadly reluctant) owners of these have let a FEW go to the market.

This supremely rare, supremely BEAUTIFUL specimen is a CLASSIC example of these early swords made by Thomas Leech & Company, who before the War operated "Memphis Novelty Works"...literally producing "novelty" items of all sorts out of their Memphis shop and operations.  Once War and Tennessee's secession came in early 1861, they quickly were begged to produce ANY accouterments, weapons, etc, to help arm the THOUSANDS of un-armed, "green" raw recruits of Tennessee.  They quickly began producing all sorts of militaria--but it is these very early, and so SCARCE today--"MEMPHIS / NOVELTY WORKS / THOs LEECH & CO" marked specimen in the upper-most part of the guard that commands the profound collectability and historical significance today.  The 100% ORIGINAL marking is CRISP and CLEAR--almost as good as the day it was STAMPED.  Since it was stamped upon the curvature of the upper-most part of the brass guard (HIGH copper content, low zinc, because the South had so little zinc to make better quality "brass", thus the "reddish" patina from the copper -content), the "ME" in "MEMPHIS" looks like it's worn--but it's NOT.  Try stamping a flat gang-stamp on a concave/curved surface, and you'll see what I mean!  The "NOVELTY WORKS" and the "THOs LEECH & CO" are QUITE VIVID, with only minor wear!  And even better still, the entire piece is TRULY GORGEOUS in EVERY FACET!  A true CONFEDERATE BEAUTY--the ORIGINAL "Memphis Belle"!  The painted-canvas cloth wrap (so typical of Southern construction, given the great quantity of cotton available, but needing the scarcer leather for cavalry/artillery equipage, etc), bears only the MOST MINOR WEAR--one of the BEST I've ever seen.  And like the wire---she's TIGHT!  The correct and again classic CS all-copper-twine wire is fantastic.  And if it ain't original--it was re-wired LONG AGO.  It's hard to tell, since SO FEW are INTACT today to judge against!  But it's clearly OLD, and the CORRECT all-copper twine wire.  All the high copper content brass has the most scrumptious, untouched for 150 years patina, as does the BLADE!  Again, classic CS "un-stopped fuller", FULL-LENGTH (right at 34" long) and NO ACTIVE OXIDATION, NO SHARPENING--just a slick, smokey-grey patina over the blade....just the way we LOVE 'EM!  It bears only the archetypical CS crude forging/finishing traits (these guys were used to making "novelty" items--NOT SWORDS or other weapons of war!  But they sure did a GREAT JOB in turning their manufacturing over so quickly, and so DESPERATELY).  Obviously, based upon the condition of this specimen, it (thankfully) did NOT see a LOT of action.  Enough minor wear in spots that PROVES is was issued (and by God, THEY WERE ALL ISSUED, for they were so DESPERATELY NEEDED--just read the accounts of the officer's in the field in 1861/early 1862, as well as from Tennessee's Governor!),  but whoever the trooper was that got this one clearly didn't drag this sword through all 4 years of HEAVY COMBAT.  And perhaps an Officer/"desk-jockey" got it.  Who knows...and WHO CARES, so long as it's such a complete beauty as THIS!!!  I'll let ALL the MANY FINE PICTURES BELOW do all the selling and talking for me!  All I did to it when I received it was clean it with Kramer's all-natural, no petro-chemical cleaner (the wire/wrap were dusty!) and then a light coating of the world's best--"By Order of Her Majesty" the Queen on England, "Renaissance Crystalline Wax".  Just look at this MEMPHIS BELLE!

The Memphis Novelty Works would soon be completely abandoned in front of the oncoming Federals in very early 1862, moving into Mississippi, and later into Georgia--always trying to stay ONE-STEP AHEAD of the advancing Federal Armies!  They quickly dropped the "Memphis Novelty Works" name upon leaving Memphis, and adopted the "Leech & Rigdon" name that we all are so familiar with.

Beat this condition, rarity, and price.  And if you want THE scabbard for this, my buddy has one for sale.  Only around $3000 for the SCABBARD!!!!  And that's CHEAP!!!

$4298  SOLD

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Extremely Scarce, Stunning Quality & Beauty

Original New Orlean's-Made Blaise Pradel CS Foot Officer's Sword & Scabbard

Pradel's Copy of the US Model 1850 Foot Officer's Sword

Coming Directly from Kentucky CS Estate

Original Letter of Sale/Authenticity from Brian Akins

Indeed, little is known about the New Orleans cutler and surgical instrument maker, Mr. Blaise Pradel--native "cajun" of the "Big Easy"--but we know that he produced Officer swords immediately upon the outbreak of the war for the Confederacy.  Not only did he produced copies of the already US Model 1850 Foot Officer's Sword (such as this specimen here), but he also produced several unique variations of Officer swords, ranging to some of the most ornate and BEAUTIFUL Field & Staff Officer swords (especially the "CS" and Pelican motif guard "holy grail" of swords!)  He also did subcontracted production work for the equally famous New Orleans Confederate sword-maker, Dufilho, so Pradel's work got around, and his quality is especially noted.  Of course, by very early 1862, New Orleans fell quickly and permanently into Federal hands, thus shutting-off the flow of these EXTREMELY SCARCE and MOST DESIRABLE Confederate Officer Swords!  They barely had a year to produce them!

Coming directly from a southern Kentucky Confederate family's estate just a couple of years ago, Mr. Brian Akins of "Akin's Armory" acquired this sword and scabbard from the family, and his original Letter of Sale/Authenticity is shown below, and shall be provided to the future owner.  The ARCHETYPICAL Pradel construction trait of the crude mold-seemed pommel construction--coupled with the classic "New Orleans hump" or "bulge" in the middle of the grip--are the dead give-a-ways as to this being a Pradel specimen (just as Mr. Akins points out in his letter and his decades of experience with Confederate swords).  The mold seam is as CLEAR AS DAY on this one, as they are on all Pradel specimens.  The 100% ORIGINAL WIRE & WRAP are 100% INTACT!!!!  It is a STUNNING example that clearly was NOT abused during the war.  And you can look at the pommel ping....IT HAS NEVER been taken apart since the day Pradel's craftsmen produced this sword in 1861!  The unstopped fuller and patina on this 31.5" long UNTOUCHED blade--being virtually NICK-FREE....you have to look HARD to find a "flea-bite" on this unsharpened blade--are absolutely beautiful, having a smoky, steely-dark hue.  NO pitting and NO OXIDATION WHATSOEVER.  The gorgeous floral motif--again, a copy of the US M1850 Foot Officer's--is classically higher in quality, as Pradel is noted for, and higher in copper content, as most all CS brass is known to be (with the shortage of zinc within their copper to produce brass).  Even the original throat washer is present!  The original scabbard that came with the blade out of the Kentucky estate fits the blade PERFECTLY, and has VERY ORNATE and VERY HIGH COPPER CONTENT throat, drag, and mounts to the japanned steel scabbard.  Exquisite matching floral motifs adorn the mounts, with fine engraved scrollwork upon the drag and mounts.  SIMPLE SPECTACULAR.  NOTHING is broken....NOTHING has been repaired...and there is NOTHING detracting to this most scarce Blaise Pradel of New Orleans produced Confederate Foot Officer's Sword from a "Bluegrass" Kentucky Confederate's heritage.

If you can find one BETTER and CHEAPER...I'll give you this beauty for FREE...

$3098 SOLD

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Ultra-Rare Thomas Griswold & Co. of New Orleans, Confederate Cavalryman's Officer Sword

No, your eyes do NOT deceive you!  Not only is any Thomas Griswold-made sword rare already....but the "Holy Grail" of the Griswold swords is always the Cavalry Officer's saber!  Once having a completely brass scabbard, this beautiful sword once was worn PROUDLY by a Confederate Cavalry officer--with a great likelihood of coming straight off of a Louisianan.  At any rate, this specimen was picked-up by me the Friday of the Franklin Show (when Davis was suddenly put into the PICU, and I had to leave the show ASAP).  At the time, the entire wiring and wrap was 100% completely GONE.  The original wood core was left intact, and everything else was just splendid--100% untouched tight blade and that beautiful floral motif upon the tines of the basket with the brass having that beautiful, mellow hue.  I had the museum-quality restorationist Mr. Jeff T. Leathers of Tennessee do an outstanding job of authentically re-wrapping and rewiring the sword back to its original condition (obviously with modern leather and correct wiring).  He made sure to put the right number of "wire-twists" shown on the few known specimens to matcher PERFECTLY.

Sure....we ALL wish the original wire, wrap, and scabbard were with this ultra-rare sword....or better yet, if it had the Griswold maker's-mark....but what do you expect for this price???

$3498  SOLD

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BEAUTIFUL, 100% ORIGINAL & UNTOUCHED CS Foot Officer's Sword

This one Speaks with a "Cajun" Accent!  Clearly a New Orleans Product, as Exhibited by a Multitude of known "New Orleans" Traits

Originally Acquired by Long-Time and Local Legendary NC Collector, Mr. Joe D. Ginn, Jr, of Cherryville, NC

This piece was acquired by me from my good old friend Joe Ginn of Cherryville, North Carolina in the summer of 2008.  Joe had been a collector of Civil War antiquities all of his life, as has his father and many of his family’s friends and his uncle--picking-up some INCREDIBLE "out-of-the-bushes" Confederate items in the state.  When first bought by my local friend in collector at the 2008 October "Bend In The River" Vicksburg Show, the sword was passed around (literally, by my friend Dr. Bill White, who was deciding whether to buy it or not) to several REAL CS SWORD "EXPERTS", who confirmed that there are a multitude of attributes of this 100% original, un-touched/"no monkey-business" and complete officer’s sword which convince me (and him, since he bought it!) and others that it is a product of not only of a sword-maker/retailer in New Orleans, but more specifically possibly that of Thomas, Griswold, and Company (New Orleans, circa 1860-1861), but maybe through a retailer such as Hyde & Goodrich, or perhaps one of the small New Orleans sub-contracted shops in that area.  Given that we KNOW that New Orleans retailers/sword makers were importing French swords (Hyde & Goodrich did so, such as a M1860 French-made Cavalry Officer's sword that my Busche, Louisiana's friend Mr. David Villere's G-G-Uncle bought and had engraved, the "Hyde & Goodrich" marked French M1831 Artillery Sword--with DUG specimens of these French M1831 artillery swords at early-war sites, etc) there is even the remote possibility of the blade itself being an imported blade (another common CS occurrence, such as the N. Derby swords of Nashville, other New Orleans swords, even Mobile, etc), but that the sword on the whole was made and/or assembled within the American South for use within service for the Confederacy.  In short , this specimen displays so many of the classic known “New Orleans” manufactured traits and attributes.  These attributes are as follows: The grip itself is of a highly-curved contour—bulging greatly in the middle, and yet narrowing markedly at the ends...the evident rough and poor quality sand-casting flaws within the cast-brass floral design...the brass is of a high copper content (given that the South had very few natural sources of zinc), and the brass thus has a more reddish hue in the patina...the pommel cap at the top has a very faded or soft casting quality...the blade (spine) thickness itself is very distinct in that it becomes thin (concave) approaching the tip of the blade, but a slight bulging toward the tip...The blade finish itself, as it approaches the blade tip, becomes far rougher in quality...The sharpened edge, as it is clipped at the end for the ricasso, is a strong CS trait seen on known Griswold specimens.  Though there are specimens of Germanic manufactured swords that often mirror some of these attributes and qualities, I (and the inspection of others at the show) firmly believe this piece to be of New Orleans manufacture during 1860-1861 (New Orleans fell quickly in early 1862), and have never seen a German specimen with ALL of these traits within one piece.  You can tell the blade hasn't been re-pinged (where someone would replace the blade with a modern "monkey-business" swith-er-roo), and NO QUESTION the wire and wrap are 100% tight and intact.

A good old Johnny Reb sword, out of the backwoods of North Carolina from my old and dear friend...and priced accordingly, since no one is 100% sure WHO in New Orleans, etc., made/sold this Officers Sword.  And she SURE IS PRETTY at THIS PRICE!

$1998 SOLD

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Exceptionally Rare CS Foot Officer's Sword & Scabbard

Made By Hyde & Goodrich of New Orleans

Legible "HYDE & GOODRICH/NEW ORLEANS" Maker's Marking Upon Ricasso

Gorgeous Wrap, Wire, Scabbard, & Total Display Appearance -- a Centerpiece Item for ANY Collection

From the Bird/Byrd Family Virginia Collection

Indeed, one of the exceptionally rare, HIGHLY collectable, hard-to-find New Orleans-made Hyde & Goodrich Confederate Foot Officer's sword with scabbard.  This comes out of the Loudoun County family collection of the Bird/Byrd family (and their tentacles of marriages within the family from their landing into the Colonies in the 1700's, and how they spelled their name two different ways--"Bird" and "Byrd").  Though we know precisely that James C. Bird was in the in the 24th Virginia Cavalry, it is not known whether this was his sword or not (he had other relatives--cousins--whom also fought, I have their ID'ed items...all coming soon!)  This piece is in extremely gorgeous and complete condition, being truly almost "museum-quality" in its display.  The sword itself is simple gorgeous, having the full-length 29.5" blade, with only the most minor pitting, and the most pleasant mellowed "smokey" gray patina to the blade.  The "HYDE & GOODRICH" maker's-mark, arching over "NEW ORLEANS" on the one side of the ricasso is legible....those magical words you long to find on the ricasso of this classically New Orleans blade.  The basket is the classic floral pattern design, copying the US 1850 Foot Officer's model design, but the handle bears the distinct New Orleans/Hyde & Goodrich classical form of being thin at the ends, but swelled in the middle.  The leather wire and wrap are simply SPECTACULAR, as you will quickly notice in the many fine photo's below!  The brass shows the most beautiful, eye-appealing patina and appearance--as does the entire sword and scabbard.  The scabbard was professionally restored with museum-quality restoration, such as the replacement drag, but the original throat and lower sword hanger are most beautiful.  I have personally done my own leather preservation and enrichment to the leather, such that it will last for the generations to come for all to behold and preserve.  After all, we are merely temporary caretakers of these irreplaceable pieces of history.  Hyde & Goodrich were only able to produce such fine (considered amongst the HIGHEST quality of all CS-produced swords) blades before New Orleans fell to the Federals in early 1862, so very few were made...and fewer still are in existence today--making this one RARE BEAUTY, indeed!

This is the kind of quality, rarity, and SOUTHERN PRIDE that I don't have to do a lot of talking to sell.  I'll let the pictures and it's history do the selling for me.  It shall make a real centerpiece addition to ANY serious collector's display.  After all...can you find another Hyde & Goodrich in scabbard for sale...and anywhere near this price???  YOU CAN'T EVEN BUY "DOG RIVER" SWORDS & SCABBARDS FOR THIS PRICE at THIS QUALITY!

$3998 SOLD

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Gorgeous Original RARE Confederate Beauty!

"Type I" Froelich Cavalry Sword & Scabbard

Late 1861 Wilmington, NC Production Specimen

100% Intact Leather Wrap & Brass Wire

Most EXCELLENT Metal, Leather, Blade, Brass, Fantastically Archetypical Crude Lap Mold Seam and Brass Sword Hanger Mounts on Scabbard

Though called in the collecting community as a "Type I Kenansville" heavy cavalry sword & Scabbard, this extremely early-war (late 1861) and rare wartime sword produced by Louis Froelich was actually produced at his first facility in Wilmington, North Carolina--never being made at the later famous Froelich Kenansville, North Carolina facility.  These were clear Confederate copies of the sturdy, reliable, and highly effective in sword-to-sword combat Model 1840 "Wristbreaker" Heavy Cavalry Saber.  As the many fine photo's show below, this specimen is in gorgeous complete original condition and most beautiful appearance.  The 100% intact leather wrap and brass simple wire are COMPLETELY tight, undamaged, unbroken, and solid--just as solid as the blade to the handle...no wobble or damage whatsoever.  Even the unsharpened, un-stopped fuller, full-length 34" blade has NO DAMAGE and NO NICKS to the smooth, dark, steely-gray metal whatsoever.  The Confederate-classic brass sword hanger mounts, and SCREAMING crude lap mold seam running down the entire length of the scabbard are superb.  The sword fits SNUG like a glove with the scabbard, and there is NO DAMAGE or REPAIRS or APOLOGIES whatsoever with the scabbard---NO PITTING or oxidation...and in fact, some of the original red paint has left a feint red hue to the scabbard!!!!  Now THAT tells you the metal quality and condition we're talking about here!  The "XI" on the brass scabbard throat is clearly visible, though the usual matching Roman Numeral on the tine or side of the guard are too feint.  We know these to be the early Froelich/ "Type I" model, due to the smaller pommel and flatter basket, which is from a casting flaw in the casting process (see Mr. Shannon Pritchard's most EXCELLENT description from the "must-have" Confederate collector's reference book, "Collecting the Confederacy", on page 105.)  Even the nice sand-casting inclusions into the basket.....it's as Johnny Reb as they come.

No need to get a loan or sell your car to afford to put this classic, extremely scarce and early production Confederate Cavalryman's blade!

$2998 SOLD

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GORGEOUS, ULTRA-RARE Confederate

 Memphis Novelty Works CS Cavalry Sword

100% Compete, Intact, All-Original (No Reproduction Wire Nor Wrap!)

TIGHT Blade, Almost 100% Intact Original Leather Wrap--Tight 2-Twine Wire

One of the RAREST Confederate Swords Produced...EVER

Only Produced Between September of 1861 through April 1862 in Memphis (Memphis Falling Soon Afterward)

The Memphis Novelty Works Becoming Thereafter Known By Their Owners "Leech & Rigdon"

You are indeed staring at one of the rarest maker-known swords of the entire Confederacy--which should be obvious since the Memphis Novelty Works was only in operation producing war material from September 1861 through early 1862 (after the fall of Forts Henry, Donelson, and Island Number 10, Memphis fell so quickly after a sharp, but quick and decisive river engagement that the South could muster against the overwhelming might of Farragut's Yankee armada.)  Thus, having at most 8 months to produce material, these swords are indeed FEW AND FAR BETWEEN to be found!  This is believed to be a very early example, given that it is not maker-marked, has neither an "un-stopped" nor "stopped" fuller, has the luxury of 2-twine "standard" brass wire (which would later be reduced by the growing lack of brass to using simple copper wiring), high furniture-quality brass guard/tines, and thus is believed this was an early production piece that was being produced in the UTMOST HASTE to equip the many unarmed cavalrymen in the Western Theater so early in the war.  There are so many gorgeously beautiful facets to this fine, extremely rare specimen: the original wrap (with distinct dark brown/russet leather for the wrap) is essentially INTACT and COMPLETE.  Virtually no wear, cracking, crazing, or damage to the phenomenal wrap worth any note.  And the brass 2-twine wire is so very NICE AND TIGHT with the grip--no loose ends or looseness at all.  By looking at the ping upon the characteristic Memphis Novelty Works VERY ROUNDED pommel cap, you can easily tell this has NEVER been taken apart to be "monkeyed with" with any reproduction parts.  All original parts, my friends.  The blade, as mentioned before, is neither "stopped" nor "un-stopped", but simply runs past the guard/basket into the handle spine of the blade.  It has your expected UNTOUCHED and UNCLEANED softened steely grey and mottled patina that you LOVE to see on Confederate REAL STEEL!  Full length blade, of course, measuring 34" long.  It is the South's variant/version of a "heavy cavalry" or "wristbreaker" sword for their gallant horsemen.  But there's something even more "killer" and cool about this piece--there's NO DOUBT that this one got issued at used 100% FOR SURE!  Having the standard 3-tine brass guard/basket, the outer basket DEFINITELY was bent inward....which could ONLY happen due to an extremely violent and powerful force pushing it inward.  It is not damaged AT ALL.  And no damage repairs ANYWHERE.  But like many other noted specimens exhibiting this occurrence, the rider clearly was gripping the sword when thrown violently from his horse and hitting the ground (or horse falling upon the guard/basket).  Being an ex-Quality Assurance Engineer working for an international steel company (Armco-Kawasaki Steel Foundry), I KNOW MY METALLURGY!  You have no idea how many Newtons of Force (sorry--hate to pull out my Physics and Engineering books on you, but the "truth and facts" are as such!) it would take to cause this to occur.  There are the also the usual "battle nicks"--very few, but only enough to prove this baby didn't sit far behind the lines guarding a bridge or warehouse!  Only through a sudden and violent exertion of force could cause this.  Boy...the stories this most gorgeous and rare beauty could tell!

As it is, I wish you "good luck" finding a Memphis Novelty Works Cavalrymen's 100% complete, intact, original sword anywhere near this price.  Heck--I'm pricing it like most people price generic "Dog River" swords!!!  Feel free to pay $10,000+ for another one!  It's your money to waste!   I'll be MORE than happy to keep it!

$3900  SOLD

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Superb CS-Made Fighting Knife & Original Tin Scabbard

Spectacular CS Local-Made Tin Scabbard w/Excellent 13.75" Clip-Point Knife

As Southern as "cornpone and molasses"!  This beautiful local-made CS clip-point fighting knife with it's original tin-scabbard are stunningly beautiful, and classically Confederate.  The tin scabbard with soldering--and that excellent tin belt loop--are perfectly intact and tight.  The over 13" clip-point fighting knife fits it snug.  The clip-point blade itself measures precisely 9" long, and in beautiful, untouched condition, having no pitting, nicks, or detractions whatsoever.  Archetypical CS crude forging facets abound, given the poorly hammered/finished blade  near the top of the spine (excellent CS crude voids where it wasn't hammered thoroughly and fully in the forging process, leaving "crazing" in the metal.)  The simple wooden handle is beautifully intact, having no chips, damage, or detractions whatsoever.  The blade and handle are SOLIDLY tight and intact.  Blessed and sold by the renowned dealer and collector of CS blades last year--Mr. David LaSlavic of "Arizona Swords"--his original letter of sale/authenticity accompanies this piece.

Will look awfully impressive in your CS or knife collection.  Only a handful of tin-scabbard specimens are known to exist.  Rarely do you EVER get a shot at owning one...

GREAT  UPDATE:  Just spoke with Mr. Lee Hadaway, noted and respected author and "guru" of CS blades, and it was he who first acquired this piece from a North Carolina family less than 2 years ago.  He has seen four of these particular blades--identical in nature.  One had a leather scabbard, two without any scabbards, and this one with the 100% authentic tin scabbard.  It appears this may be a North Carolina product, and obviously with several in existence, coming from a small, but very blade-making knowledgeable shop.  The blade and handle are MADE FROM ONE SINGLE PIECE--yes, the single bar was fashioned into both the spine for the handle and the blade as well.  This, as Lee noted, is a sign that they "knew what they were doing," though you still have your classic CS forging traits (probably due to making in great haste for productivity).  Page 53 of his "Updated Confederate Bowie Knife Guide" shows one of these specimens, clearly coming from the same maker and shop.  Lee would have published this particular specimen in the book, except he had already sent it to press!  Otherwise, this piece would be in the reference book today!

SOLD

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Stunning James Conning of Mobile, Alabama Confederate "CS" Staff Officer's Sword

All-Original, Complete, Untouched, Original Wire & Wrap, Originally Sold By Shannon Pritchard in 2004

Included With Sword are Original Sword Knot & Officer's Sash

Being one of the rarest and highest quality Confederate-made swords in the entire Civil War, the James Conning, "CS" (cast in the guard) Staff Officer's Sword is among the hardest specimens to find--especially in the condition that this one is in.  One quickly realizes that the Conning-made sword is essentially a copy of the US Staff Officer's Sword, and for good reason: James Conning was a pre-war sword maker who did extensive production for the US military, as well as State and local militia forces.  James was actually a native New York-born silversmith, being listed  as a silversmith in New York as early as 1840.  He would marry into a wealthy Mobile family some 15 years before the War, and thus had a thriving business before 1861 in the Deep South.  When war broke-out, Conning eagerly utilized his skills as a master sword craftsman to equip his new Southern nation.  Conning was noted for importing some of the finest sword blades from France before the war, and doing the assembling/hilting work himself in Mobile.  He quickly copied the Staff Officer's Sword floral and "US" casting hilt design, and simply put a "CS" into the guard instead.  When the blockade prevented him from further importing French merchandise, he contracted the local Parker Foundry in Mobile for blades and other supplies he used to get from France.  He produced other models of swords, such as the regulation artillery saber with 28" curved blade, that was within the Battle Abbey collection in Richmond.  His quality brass hilts for his highly-prized CS Staff Officer Swords were produced throughout the war, only ceasing when Mobile finally fell into Federal hands.  At least one example of this CS Staff Officer exists with a floral and old English script "CS" etching within the blade (also in the Battle Abbey old collection). 

This specimen here was originally sold to my friend and compatriot in Florida back in 2004 from Shannon Pritchard.  Listed below is a copy of the original listing, and Shannon's letter of authenticity shall accompany the piece.  According to several sword aficionados, this is one of the finest all-original, untouched specimens on the "open market" (not in a museum).  The full-length blade has a fabulous smoky/grey patina, having some bright finish remaining, with no nicks or damage of any note to the blade's edge.  No modern cleaning or sharpening whatsoever.  Archetypical unstopped CS-style fuller, of course, and the blade finish becoming less refined and finished toward the rather rounded, more abrupt blade point (than most sword blade designs).  The original leather wrap is intact and still tight, with virtually no wear at all.  Barely any crazing or drying to be found at all (only near the pommel cap end), and only one or two hairline splits in the wrap.  The original 2-twine twisted wire is solidly attached, with only the most minimal, ever-so-slight looseness--but only again substantiates that it is indeed original (re-wrap jobs are tight as a drum and rub too tightly, or are far too spongy against fresh, faked leather!)  The brass hilt is absolutely spectacular, and basically blemish-free in every sense.  It's THAT GOOD!  The magic "CS" letters show perfectly, and the brass appearance is fabulous.  The classic cruder CS sand-casting traits abound, where you can even see the inclusions of sand particulates within the basket design.  But being one of the finer craftsman of Southern blades, it shows the least amount of crude, unskilled casting flaws and traits, unlike his many counterparts.  The floral design continued upon the pommel is the typical faded casted appearance (again, the poorer CS casting trait).  There is also a beautiful "starburst" motif engraved into the top of the pommel cap, which has not been noted as found on any other Conning or other sword, and it is believed by all to be original to the piece.  So whether Conning did this himself, or the officer had it done after he received it, will never be truly known.  But it is clearly a period engraving.  The blade is solidly tight--no play whatsoever.  Both the basket and the blade have the matching "160" production number, as matching production numbers should be seen on these specimens.

Just a a "bonus" to sweeten the deal, my friend will include the original presentation-grade officer's sword know and officer's maroon dress sash, which only adds the perfect "spice" and "flair" to the entire display!

An excellent addition to any hardcore Confederate or sword collector.

SOLD

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