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Weapons
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Confederate Kenansville Cavalry Saber - Model III - Rounded Top Blade Spine Price $4800
This saber is a fine example of an edged weapon manufactured at the famed Kenansville NC sword manufactory and was one of the most well made weapons from Louis Freolich and his business, Confederate States Arms Factory. The blade exhibits a nice gray aged appearance and does not show any nicks or sharpening along the cutting edge. There is a single unstopped fuller with the original leather washer fastened in place.
The scabbard is constructed of lap-seamed sheet iron with brass sword mounts and iron rings and brass throat, the drag is iron and shows evidence of real outdoor use. Overall the scabbard is solid. Some of the Freolich scabbards were painted black or red then lacquered. There is considerable evidence of a reddish hue on both sides of this scabbard as well on the bottom of each brass attached mount. The scabbard has an aged consistent color.
There are three shallow dents in the scabbard on near opposite side positions that incurred during war time use. But the sword can be withdrawn and returned with no problems. As with many of Freolich swords there is a set of mating Roman numeral assembly bench marks with the scabbard marked XXII on the throat and the saber brass quillon edge marked XXIII. Often this two numbers do not match because the throats were made and riveted in place separately and/or the scabbard was changed in the field by a soldier.
The brass two branched hilt and its quillon shows evidence of typical casting flaws but remain in strong condition. The Phrygian Helmet style pommel cap is well attached with a peen. The leather cover on the wooden grip is complete and in good condition with the original untwisted plain copper wire filling the ten grip furrows. Overall a very fine example of a Civil War Freolich cavalry saber.
The brass mouth of the scabbard shown above and right is marked XXII and the brass handle show below is marked XXIII
From the two images below there are remnants of red paint seen on the brass mounts of the scabbard that prove the scabbard was once painted red.
Mint / Unissued Condition 1862 High Hump Fayetteville Rifle w Type I Lock Plate / Hammer Style and
Fayetteville Arsenal Made Sabre Bayonet and Leather Scabbard - Rifle Comes w Original Confederate Cotton Sling Price $65,000 (Firm)
Untouched wood grain shown on butt end of stockbelow
Untouched wood grain shown on butt end of wood stock below
"PB" inspection cartouche mark for Philip Burkhart Master Armorer at arsenal placed on wooden stock shown below
"P / V / Eagle" Proof marks shown on barrel on image left
"PB" inspection cartouche for Master Armor Philip Burkhart shown on image of stock below
Date 1862 stamped on breech end of barrel below
When the Harpers Ferry Arsenal fell to the early Confederate forces in April 1861, the decision was made to make the Model 1855 “two band rifle” at the Fayetteville Arsenal and the three band musket at the Richmond Arsenal.
Initially, 39 preassembled High Hump (HH) Lock Plates unstamped came from Harpers Ferry in September 1861 to Fayetteville. The initial plate markings of a very few early assembled rifles had the lock plate stamped as below with no eagle or date and no CSA mark on the brass butt plate:
CSA
FAYETTEVILLE N.C.
In 09/09/2018 Fayetteville Rifle researcher/collector Frank Hall of Garner NC reports by Email that he has seen and is aware of approximate 245 total rifles (Lock Plate Types 1,2,3 and 4) out about 8800 rifles made. He also confirms that only 239 Type 1 HH rifles were produced with the high hump style lock plate. Hall also states there are only about 18 Type 1 rifles known in existence today in a variety of conditions, but the one shown here is the finest.
The Richmond Armory produced another 200 HH Lock Plates made in part from components captured at Harpers Ferry. These lock plates were sent to Fayetteville in April 1862 and it is believed they were all subsequently marked in the standard manner:
1862 / EAGLE over C.S.A. / FAYETTEVILLE
This Fayetteville rifle has a totally browned, untouched barrel and both the barrel and the wood stock are mostly free of major scratches, nicks and dents. The gun also has an original cotton/leather Confederate sling. The top outside face of the hammer is stamped with a "C" which probably indicates the hammer was condemned at either at Harpers Ferry or Richmond but was still used due the need for completed rifles. This mint condition Confederate rifle is truly one of a kind !!!
Fish Scale Saber bayonet produced at Fayetteville Arsenal
New Jersey 1861 Dated H & P - 69 Cal. Springfield M-1816 Musket Conversion and H & P Made "US" Bayonet Price $2700 Now $2500
While many Model 1816 flintlock muskets saw conversion from flintlock to percussion in the Civil War period, almost no other musket saw the level of quality workmanship provided by Hewes & Philips of Newark NJ. This military musket was originally made by the Springfield Arsenal in 1830 with a well stamped lock plate / date. This gun is a great example of flintlock conversions. The State of NJ had about 20,000 at the start of the Civil war - all were converted between 1861 and 1862.
The musket was originally smooth bore but was rifled during the conversion -the rifling is good. The action is very strong. A very large bolster was welded to the barrel and a percussion nipple threaded in. A unique curved percussion hammer was installed. The ramrod is correct and original to the gun.
This musket is the scarcer Type 1 conversion with a bolster clean out screw. The Type 2 conversions had no screw. The top of the barrel shows the company markings “H&P” (Hewes & Philips) and the date of the conversion "1861". A large “NJ” for New Jersey is also visible where the barrel meets the stock on the left side. The gun definitely saw action in the Civil War.
A multi-leaf sight was installed at the rear. A bayonet lug was installed on the top near the muzzle. A longer “US” marked bayonet was made to current standards.
This musket also has well defined original cartouche marks on the wood and metal from its original manufacture in 1830. there are cartouche markings on the wood, barrel, trigger guard, upper barrel band and escutcheon plate. See photos
Although this musket saw real service, the stock wood and overall metal are strong with normal light metal corrosion and some nicks in the wood from combat usage but no real issues. The barrel has a gray mottled look.
H & P used part numbers for the components that they made for their conversion. Bayonet #6 – Bayonet Lug #16 – Bolster #10 or #18 – Hammer #1 with H & P and date 1861 on top of barrel. See photos
A very nice example of a converted New Jersey Militia musket and bayonet.
Hewes & Philips (H & P) Stamp w 1861 date on top of barrel w Springfield / 1830 on lock plate.
"NJ" Stamp shown on barrel above and double cartouche marks on stock
Very Scarce 1863 Dated "CS" Marked Confederate North Carolina Medenhall Rifle w Matching Parts Serial Numbered 604 and Lancaster Bayonet and Confederate Sling Price$20,000 SOLD
Well Made Confederate Fighting Bowie Knife w Russet Leather Scabbard/Frog & Soldier Initials Price $3900
This is a great looking Confederate fighting knife. It is all original, never cleaned and has a fine untouched patina blade with a few spots of age corrosion. It is 18 1/2 inches long with a 13 x ½ inch straight pointed blade with light file marks. The walnut wood rounded handle (with an age wood split) has no movement and is held tight with an upper iron ferrule and pewter cap and a brass lower ferrule and rhombus shape hilt with high copper content.
The scabbard has a sliding belt loop frog and is fully stitched tight. The end of the scabbard is open slightly due to age and usage. A really nice knife.
The leather frog has a written black ink: “XCS, NND”
Based on a UNION SOLDIER fighting in a southern state and taking the knife from a site or Confederate soldier and subsequently writing with black ink on the leather frog “XCS” meaning formerly a Confederate States fighting knife and the soldier's initials “NND”. The Civil War Data Base research suggests it was likely taken by a soldier was from 96th Illinois infantry.
Searching the data base for Union soldiers with initials NND, there were eleven (11) possible men listed – 4 served only three months or less, 2 deserted, 1 rejected, 1 an Engineer, 2 in the Cavalry and 1 from an Illinois infantry.
The best candidate is:
Noah N. Daves
Residence Woodbine, IL. Enlisted on 9/21/1864 as a Private on 9/22/1864, he mustered into "A" Co. - Illinois 96th Infantry. He was Mustered Out on 6/10/1865 at Nashville, TN
The war record for the 96th IL infantry from September 1864 to June 1865 when Noah N. Daves was active shows two major battles that the Illinois soldier could have found the knife: Battles of Franklin TN & Nashville TN
Based on the style and construction of the fighting knife made with a diamond shape brass cross guard and large lower brass ferrule and an iron cap and upper ferrule, it could have been made in Virginia or North Carolina.
The sliding leather frog of the knife has an inked marking XCS, NND as shown above