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CONFEDERATE “DOG RIVER” CAVALRY SABER AND SCABBARD

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Confederate cavalry dominated their Federal counterparts for the first two years of war and as a branch of service cavalry always outshone infantry and artillery in the public imagination for romantic dash, something actively cultivated by Jeb Stuart and others. This is a strong example of a “Dog River” style Confederate cavalry saber, having full leather grip wrap and iron wire binding, an iron scabbard with brass ring bands matching the hilt in tone, and blade with unstopped fuller, good edge and point. The nickname “Dog River” was coined by William Albaugh, the ground-breaking collector and author, for sabers whose makers and places of manufacture are still not identified, but are clearly Confederate, often showing a distinct individual character and a pleasing awkwardness in proportion or construction that speaks to the south’s lack of resources and manufacturing facilities, but determination to make up for it.

As with most of this pattern, the brass hilt follows the U.S. M1840 in using a standard guard with knucklebow and two side branches, and a brimmed pommel cap with the grip having a leather wrap with wire binding over a grooved wood core. The brass is medium bright and matches the two ring bands on the scabbard. The grip is in very good condition and in typically Confederate fashion uses a single strand of iron wire instead of the standard Union double-twisted brass. The wire is complete and firmly in place. The leather wrap is complete as well, showing as a deep brown with only minor rubs. In form the grip follows the U.S. 1840 pattern in having no central swell and curves and tapers toward the pommel, but shows a more dramatic arch to the curve and somewhat thicker forward section of the grip than is seen on U.S. M1840 sabers by Ames for example.

The counterguard shows some crudeness in the finishing. The underside does not have a distinct edge or well-defined tang mound for the blade. (If there was a leather blade pad at the shoulder, it is long gone.) The branches and knucklebow show similar slight awkwardness in proportion, with the branches more rounded in cross-section and the knucklebow more rectangular than found on U.S. swords, and we note the brim of the pommel cap is rather thick as well. The brass is very good, with no breaks or cracks. The pommel shows some small dings and the top of the blade tang shows some dings indicating it may have been tightened up. The quillon shows a slight bend to the rear, either a fault in the casting or a slight impact. On the whole, however, it rather adds to a pleasing swept-back profile of the saber, starting with the extended hatchet point of the tip and emphasized by the arch and taper of the grip.

The blade is single-edged with a shallow curve, an extended hatchet point emphasizing its potential for a thrust as well as a cut, and is made with a typically Confederate single, wide unstopped fuller, i.e. not ending at near the hilt at a squared off ricasso, but tapering out gradually, adding to that “swept-back” effect. It has smooth metal showing a mix of silver-gray with darker gray spots, and just some shallow salt-and-peppering, mostly at the midpoint and lower sections.

The scabbard is iron, with a lapped seam along the lower reverse, noticeable, but not sloppy and tight at the upper and lower ends. The throat is flat, with a wide edge. The drag is rather broad and while rounded fore and aft is somewhat straight across the tip, as is the scabbard body. The carrying-ring bands are convex, fairly wide, brass, and match the hilt in tone. The carrying rings themselves are iron. The scabbard body is very good, solid, showing deep bluish-gray in color with just some shallow pitting and light crustiness here and there, and three shallow dings on the obverse a few inches up from the drag.

This is a very good Confederate cavalryman’s saber and scabbard, complete, all original, and recognizably southern from across the room. It would make a great addition to Civil War edged weapons, cavalry or specialized Confederate cavalry saber collection or display.  [sr] [ph:L]

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