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EXCAVATED CIVIL WAR US MODEL 1840 MUSICIAN’S SWORD

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This pattern of sword for wear by musicians was part of the 1840 series of arms that included new patterns of cavalry saber, officer’s sword, non-commissioned officer’s sword, etc. This is similar to the NCO sword in styling like a small sword with spadroon style blade, but is shorter by regulation and made without the double clamshell counterguard. These were carried in a brass mounted leather scabbard, officially suspended by a crossbelt adjusted by the round eagle crossbelt plate, though they are occasionally seen in Civil War photographs mounted in a simple frog on a waist belt.

This one is excavated, something rather uncommon for this sword pattern. The blade is full length, but heavily corroded, eliminating any markings. Corrosion of the blade and tang have loosened the brass hilt and the rolled sheet brass grip, creating a short gap between the grip and guard, though they are still in place and the grip still shows the imitation wire wrapped pattern used on the grip for the musician and NCO sword. The blade is dark, naturally, showing black a brown for the most part, and the brass has an aged, medium and not severely dark patina.

Musicians embraced both regimental bandsmen and the company musicians, a fifer and drummer, assigned to each infantry company. After 1862 bands tended to be restricted to brigade and higher-level organizations, but company musicians remained, often forming a regimental fife and drum corps that would be called upon to aid the medical staff during a battle, though there are occasional references to them playing the men into action. In either case they were on the field and might need a last-ditch weapon of defense though their swords, worn on a shoulder belt or belt frog, more often functioned as an item of full dress or a badge of office.

We don’t have a find location for this one, but seldom see excavated examples indicating field use.  [sr] [ph:L]

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