This a classic example of the “Peterson-75” non-regulation Civil War officer’s sword, patterned on the British 1827 Rifle officer’s sword and 1822/45 Infantry officer’s sword. These were produced by various German makers and exported here for sale by military goods dealers selling to officers, who were obliged to acquire their own arms, uniforms and equipment. This has an iron hilt and scabbard, making it the weapon preferred by some officers for service in the field.

All metal on the sword and scabbard is smooth, with no pitting. Hilt and scabbard show a matching plum brown color. The gray sharkskin grip is fully intact and the triple binding wire is all there: two single outer strands border a coiled wire in the middle. The counterguard shows a spread-winged eagle with a US shield on its breast, an “E Pluribus Unum” ribbon overhead, clutching arrows and olive branch, with an openwork “US” below. The eagle’s feathers and wings are detailed. The arrows and olive branch are engraved in a crossbar. The lettering of the motto is stamped into the ribbon overhead. Scrolling branches of the guard support the eagle on one side and extend to join the outer branch on the other.

The obverse ricasso has an inset brass disk reading “proved” that is surrounded by an etched circle of rays. A short etched floral panel is above that. The central portion of the blade is then also etched with an Arabesque panel containing an American eagle with a US shield on its chest and E Pluribus Unum ribbon in its beak, above a line of clouds and surrounded by a burst of the sun’s rays. The frosting of the panels has turned slightly gray, but the etching is set off nicely and is vivid to the eye, the blade showing bright overall.

The reverse of the blade has floral motifs etched on the ricasso and maker stamps reading “Eisenhauer” at top and “F. Horster / Solingen” at bottom. The first is likely the blade maker’s stamp and the second the assembler/retailer. Horster is well known as a supplier of swords to the American market before and during the war. A short Arabesque panel with etched palm leaf spray sits above the ricasso. Midway along the blade, a longer panel, also with Arabesque points, borders more floral scrolls and an etched “U.S.” As with the obverse, the metal is smooth and bright. The edge and point are very good, with no nicks or pitting.

The iron scabbard, with iron throat, rings and drag is smooth metal with no dings, dents or pitting, and matches the plum brown tones of the hilt. This is a very nice example of a non-regulation, but widely used sword.  [sr]

[sr]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!