Presented here is an unusual specimen of a Confederate cavalryman’s crude saber and its iron scabbard. This saber has some of the characteristics of the more recognizable Kenansville pattern saber. Though the saber has no markings visible whatever, we believe this to be a Kenansville-style saber as it exhibits such characteristics as a slightly curved, almost straight, 31” long blade, a modified flat back, and a long 24”single, unstopped wide and wavy fuller on both sides of the blade. No narrow fuller. The single-edged blade and its fuller are visibly crudely cast.

With the start of the war in 1861, sword maker Louis Froelich, in conjunction with partner B. Estvan, initially produced edged weapons at a Wilmington, NC facility, then relocated to a production site in Kenansville. Ironically, the facility was not a CS government entity as Froelich was the private and only owner of the company. Typical of the sabers carried by numerous Southern horsemen during the War Between the States, the Kenansville steel saber specimen was patterned much after the Federal Model 1840 light cavalry saber.

The original blade tip appears to have lost 2” or 3” of its blade length from breaking off and then ground to a hatchet-like tip. Oddly, the curved portion of the tip is now at the top edge of the blade, not the bottom. Total length of the saber, including grips, is 36½” long. Readily visible on the blade at the obverse ricasso are crude casting imperfections inherent in edged weapons of Southern manufacture. No washer pad. Blade bears scattered areas of moderate rust pitting and dark oxidation. Blade edge never sharpened. No edge nicks.

Grips display original, painted black oil cloth or tarred canvass cloth wrapped around a grooved wooden handle. These grips have a thicker top swell near the pommel area then tapers to the guard / hilt. Top of grips exhibit moderate to heavy wear thru to the wood handle with thinner scuffing of the cloth along the top. Heavy brass guard appears to have been cast and the file marks are readily visible on the squared sides of the flat branches. Strong, cast brass hilt features a robust, two-branch guard, pointed quillon and a brass, pommel cap. Grips still exhibit the original, brass, single-strand wire wrap, still tightly bound around the handle. Brass components have acquired a pleasing, rich bronze patina. Large brass pommel is plain, thick and “knob-like.”

Metal scabbard has crude brass mounts and carry rings. Middle mount is slightly loose. Iron throat collar cutout is shaped like that of the M1840 scabbard. Drag is missing, likely when the blade was broken. Drag edges have been crudely hammered together to accommodate the modified blade which fits into scabbard.

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