Q
The Confederate Sword illustrated on the slide shows crude workmanship on both the hilt and the blade. The brass knuckle-bow hilt has two branches with decorations. The decorations are not distinguishable at the point where the branches join the counter-guard. The obverse side of the guard has two birds perched on a branch. The hilt has a round disc at the point where it joins the flat pommel. Due to the scarcity of leather, the grips were covered with materials other than leather and were then wrapped with gilded wire. Available leather was used for shoes. The blade is heavy, slightly curved, and unmarked. This sword came from Winchester, Virginia. Long ago, members of a local family brought the family relic to a small grocery store and exchanged it for food. The sword is relatively ornate but very rough.
During his lifetime, William A. Albaugh, III was considered to be the foremost authority on Confederate Swords. His books continue to be the best source for reliable information about Confederate weapons. Once upon a time, Bill Albaugh said that he could hold a sword up against his right ear and if he could hear the faint strains of DIXIE in the distance, he would know that he held a genuine Confederate sword! Actually, he was sighting down the blade to see whether it was less than straight and whether the width varied. The indications determined whether it was made by a rolling mill or by a blacksmith on an anvil.
More Pictures
Return To: