Original U.S. Civil War M-1850 Style German Imported Non-Regulation Foot Officer’s Sword and Scabbard Painted Gold for GAR Hall - Rare Eagle Variant on Basket

Original Item: Only One Available. In 1840 there was a decision to reform the swords used by the Regular Army. This may have been prompted by the creation of the dragoon regiments during the 1830s and dissatisfaction with the model-1833 Dragoon Saber design. In 1839 the War Department ordered a number of European edge weapons of various designs for testing. It convened a board of officers by authority of an order issued August 28, 1840 to study the various European designs. An order was placed with the German firm of Schnitzler and Kirschbaum in Solingen, then the leading center of blade production in Europe, for a quantity of the various designs chosen. The swords were delivered in 1841 and became the model-1840 pattern for many of the sword types used for the remainder of the 19th Century. In 1850 two swords were introduced: one for foot officers and a second for both staff and field officers.

This example is an “M-1850” Foot Officer’s sword and was likely imported from a Solingen-based firm. The basket is the standard “four finger” guard constructed out of steel. The most beautiful feature is the extremely rare variant of the Federal Eagle. The eagle is very “european” in design with pointed wings turned up and intricate details for the feathers. The grip had a wire wrapped shark skin cover, but now it is just bare wood with small remnants of the sharkskin at the ends. This example was painted across the hilt and scabbard in gold for a Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Hall.

The blade is in relatively fair condition considering the age and how much use it saw post-war. The etching is intact but very hard to see, and there are quite a few small nicks on the edge. There is pitting speckled throughout the blade as well as the spine, but does not subtract from the beautiful craftsmanship.

The scabbard shows heavy wear and worn gold paint from its use at a GAR Hall. There are some dents and bends as shown, but it still sheathes well.

This is a great example of a Civil War era Non-Regulation Foot Officer’s German imported sword!

Comes ready for display.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 32 ⅛”
Overall Length: 37 ½”
Basket Dimensions: 3 ¾” wide x 6” Length
Scabbard Length: 33 ¼”