Weapons
Thomas Griswold & Co New Orleans Cavalry Officer Sword
An extremely fine example of a quite scarce Confederate Cavalry Officer Sword. Griswold swords were so popular in their day that several Confederate Generals carried them and even one Union General was known to have carried one, perhaps captured during the war. Though New Orleans fell early in the war, they produced some of the best made swords in the Confederate service. This fine cavalry officer's, as many of their products, had their signature solid brass scabbard. Blade is full firm marked "Thomas, Griswold & Co., New Orleans".
CONDITION: Overall length is 43", blade is 34-1/2" and is light gray colored with scattered light staining. Makers mark is full and crisp as seen in photos. Blade is still quite sharp, and appears contemporary sharpened to time of use. Grip retains 95% of its original leather with full twisted wire wrapped tight. The throat washer is original and complete.
The brass guard and braches have the expected officer's ornamental shell and filigree. The brass handle and scabbard are solid and have fine matching dark mustard colored patinas. Scabbard body has 2 light dents. Mounts are in good order. Comes with original Civil War sword knot. Price $14,500
Now $13,000
Type 97 WW II Japanese Kai-gunto Pattern Naval Officer Sword with Original Silk Storage Bag and Paper Label Found Inside Sword Handle Defining Shiga Kaigun Naval Base (Comes w Research Literature)
The sword was made in the province and town called Nagamura Kiyonobu. The actual sword was made by a worker named Minyo Motomatsu. This style sword, Type 97, was started in 1937 – Year 2597 from National Era System - hence Type 97. This type sword was produced till about 1944.
This sword scabbard is wood with polished ray skin. The handle is wrapped in brown silk tape over unpolished brown shark skin and the menuki. There are gold plated handle and scabbard fittings. A label was found in the handle giving the Naval Base.
The stainless steel blade is probably government arsenal made. The tsuba is blackened bronze. Overall length in scabbard 38 ¼”, blade 26 ¼”
Overall, a very fine condition, original WW II Naval Officer’s samurai sword. Price $4400
Boyle & Gamble Confederate Foot Officer Sword
Initials “JHS” Carved on Leather Scabbard & Upper Brass Mount
Found in the 1970’s in a country store near Durham NC.
Research analysis strongly suggests the letters JHS represent
Joseph Henry Scales of Co. C , 45th NC Volunteers Price $7500
Per the NC Troops 1861-1865 Roster book Joseph Henry Scales was from Henry County Virginia prior to enlisting in the 45th NC, Co. C as a 3rd Lt. on May 28 1862 in Guilford County NC. Lt. Scales was promoted to 1st Lt. on Sept. 1 1863.
He was wounded on May 10 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House VA.
Eventually J.H. Scales enlisted on Mar. 8 1865 into the Invalid Corp. but was still attached to 45th NC. He is listed on the parole records at Greensboro, NC as a 1st Lt.
A son of Peter Perkins Scales and Mary Morehead - Joseph Scales Married Annie H. Avery Oct. 29 1868 at Morganton NC. Note: NC Governor John Motley Morehead is J. H. Scales uncle by way mother Mary Lucretia Morehead’s brother.
His grandfather had settled in Guildford County/Rockingham County area. It appears the ancestral family moved to Henry County, Va. 1st Lt. Joseph H. Scales died in 1916 and is buried in Scales Family Cemetery, Axton, Henry County VA along with his wife who died in 1917 at age 68. A family plantation called "Thornfield" started around 1825 exists today in Henry County VA.
Captain Peter Perkins Scales is a brother to Joseph H. Scales. Captain Peter Scales was also enrolled from Guilford County in the 45th NC Co. C. Captain Peter Scales died of wounds sustained at Gettysburg and is buried in same VA cemetery.
The sword is made by Boyle & Gamble of Richmond VA is complete with scabbard and etched blade. Hilt and handle are complete with original copper wire and leather. Distinctive B&G pommel cap with floral decorations on the guard. Correct original top stitched scabbard complete with original mounts. Scabbard has initials "JMS" double lined with cross marks incised on the upper brass mount as well as into the leather section. 30-inch blade is lightly etched on both sides with Confederate Flag (Bars & Stars) motifs. Overall the sword and scabbard are in very fine condition.
Research Analysis of the Sword Initials J H S
The sword was found in Durham County. The military officer who once owned and used the foot sword was most likely a man from either Virginia or North Carolina. Durham County is located in north central piedmont area of North Carolina somewhat near the Virginia border. Durham County was part of Orange County in 1860, one county east of Guilford County.
Using the American Civil War Database, a personnel search was done using the letters “J” & “S” representing the first and last name per the requirements.
For the State of Virginia, a total of 228 names/records with J & S were shown from the search. The records were reviewed looking for any soldier who was any officer grade with three (3) initials JHS. There were no officers from Virginia fitting the criteria.
The same search process was performed for State of North Carolina and a total of 3516 names/records were found. Looking for officers with initials JHS produced eight (8) possible candidates from North Carolina.
Based on nearby counties to Durham (Durham County was not created till 1881 from Orange and Wake County) where the soldier probably enlisted such as Orange, Caswell, Rockingham, Alamance, Guilford, Person and Forsyth, only two men were possible candidates:
James H. Sweezy of Orange County and Joseph Henry Scales of Guilford County.
The other six men enlisted from the mountains, eastern NC, the lower Piedmont and foothills near Charlotte or Salisbury.
Based on seven (7) accumulated nicks along the length of the sword blade from continued use, the officer had to have been in active service for some duration, probably 1 or more years.
James Sweezy served 2.5 months while Joseph Scales served 2 Years 11 months
Very Scarce Non-Federal Ames Pre Civil War (1857- 58)
“New Pattern 1857” Light Cavalry Saber
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This early Ames Pre Model 1860 has no Inspectors marks - No “US” - No Date XXXX Stamp – 34.5” Blade
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Sold to a State or State Militia (probably Southern) w Regimental Rack # 602 on Scabbard
Produced by the Ames Sword Company Chicopee, Massachusetts, this sword is an early example of the Model 1860 Light Cavalry saber - initially called the ‘New Pattern’ 1857 saber.
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Sword has the full Arch Style Ames marking: "Ames Mfg. Co. / Chicopee/ Mass." on one side of the blade ricasso
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The other ricasso side is totally blank indicating a state purchase
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Sword Handle and Hilt has a probable Production Assembly Number “25” stamped on brass pommel and guard - not normally seen on Federal Swords
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Oberved 1858 dated Ames has a 34.5 inches blade length. By 1859 dated sabers had a 35 inch blade length
Early in January, 1857 James T. Ames was requested by the Federal Chief of Ordnance to furnish sample patterns for a new light cavalry saber and he made two models, based on the French Light Cavalry saber of 1822 which he sent to the U.S. Ordnance Department for evaluation on January 30, 1857. In the interim, Ames produced some private purchase swords, Model 1860 type, for a state regiment or militia.
On April 9, 1858 Ames was asked to quote a price for 800 'New Pattern' Light Cavalry sabers and 400 Heavy Cavalry (Dragoon) sabers. The 'New Pattern' sabers were apparently not designated by model year initially . Ames cited a price for the Light Cavalry sabers with scabbard at $8.50 each while the M1840 Heavy Cavalry (Dragoon) sabers with scabbards at $7.00 each. The Ordnance Department placed an order with Ames on April 14, 1858.
Ames delivered all 800 'New Pattern' Light Cavalry sabers in October, 1858, and on November 24 the company received an additional order for 1,000 which were delivered in March and April, 1859. A final pre-Civil War order for the Light Cavalry sabers, all with brass hilts like those earlier produced, was given to Ames on March 19, 1859 and he delivered all 5,000 by January 11, 1861.
Retains the original black leather and wire wrap on the grip as well as the leather throat washer. Mellow patina to the brass. Blade is bright mixed with dull silver and some gray clouding. VG blade with no edge nicks. Scabbard is complete with rings, throat and drag, gray overall with some brown coming up and some shallow dappled pitting toward the tip. A rack number "602" is stamped in large numerals on the drag. Price $1500 Now $1250
North Carolina 1st Model Confederate Cavalry Sword Made at Wilmington NC by Louis Froelich of Confederate States Armory
In April 1861, Louis Froelich, a Bavarian immigrant, began manufacturing uniform buttons in Wilmington for North Carolina soldiers. With a Hungarian partner, Froelich operated his first arms factory expanded for the Confederacy from November 1861 until March 1862, when the partnership was dissolved.
The two men formed the “C.S.A. Arms Factory,” that opened in November, offering to make swords, bayonets, lances, and bowie knives. On November 9, Confederate vice president Alexander H. Stephens visited the factory and “made a spirited address” while holding a sword and lance. He promised to carry the weapons to other parts of the Confederacy to show others what “the Old North State was doing.”
Louis Froelich moved his company to Kenansville North Carolina on 2.5 acres he purchased after a yellow fever epidemic struck Wilmington in 1862.
In March 1863 Froelich built and opened the Kenansville armory by May. On July 4, however, Lt. Col. George W. Lewis' 3rd New York Cavalry burned it down while raiding Confederate lines of communication.
Froelich rebuilt the facility and continued to produce military equipment, forming a partnership with Jacob H.N. Cornehlson in January 1864. The armory was last known to have operated till June 1864.
After the war, Froelich turned to agriculture, selling scuppernong wine and other farm products. He died in 1873 in Halifax County NC.
In the end, Froelich is mainly noted for his armory’s eighteen surgical sets, ~3,700 lance spears, ~6,500 saber bayonets, ~11,700 cavalry sabers, ~2,700 officer’s sabers, ~600 naval cutlasses, ~800 artillery cutlasses, ~300 saber belts, and ~300 knapsacks. Often there can be filed Roman numerals on the brass sword guard edge and scabbard throat, but not always.
This heavy sword is a rock solid, strong example of a Cavalry sword based on the 1840 US Pattern and has the unique plain pommel cap initially used by Freolich. The leather covered handle is 100% intact as well the single strand heavy gage copper wire. The blade has a nice aged mottled patina with some pitting and an unstopped fuller. The sword and scabbard have not been cleaned.
The scabbard has a nice age color with light pitting and two brass ring mounts. The soldered seam near the end of the scabbard has a 1" open crack. Price $4800 Now $4500
Nickel Plated Ames Model 1840 Artillery Saber
Sword blade is 32" long, very fine overall with a couple dark spots on blade - no nicks or cuts on blade. Horizontal maker's mark "Made By Ames MFG Co Chicopee Mass" in four lines on one side of upper blade, the other side is dated 1862 with a stamped "CONN" for the State of Connecticut militia in two lines. The nickel plating was probably added by a junior officer during the Civil War period.
Original leather grip and wire remain excellent showing honest age and light use, leather washer intact. Scabbard is dent free. Both the nickel plated guard and scabbard show consistent aging and loss of some of the nickel plate due war usage. The pommel and cross guard have a rack number stamp of #206. The scabbard drag is stamped #262, a probable stamping error because it is doubtful a second sword near this rack #206 was nickel plated. A very nice scarce artillery sword example with ties to a state militia / regiment. Price $1100 Now $850
Federal 12 LB Boremann Fuze Round Shell with Original Green Paint $325, Now $250
SOLD
Confederate 24 LB Boremann Fuze Round Shell $495, Now $325
SOLD
Two Federal Canister Grape Shot Balls $125, Now $100
Heavy Confederate Side Knife
Solid heavy (1 lb 6 oz) knife, overall length 14 1/4" with 2 1/8" ricasso blade with and 4 3/8" cross guard. No markings. End of wood handle shows some worm holes.
Knife has sharp edges with no re-sharpening.
The flat plateau construction shown in the middle of the blade on each side matches well with a similar knife from the book "Confederate Bowie Knives", page 256.
A nice example. Price $1150 Now $800