M1860 Light Cavalry Saber

JJEH

JJEH

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This is the other poker I have acquired, a M1860 Light Cavalry Saber. I wasn't after that one, but it was in the lot, and I got it.

My wife likes it better than the French one because of her Army history :D And the 1st Cavalry Division Museum is right here at Hood. I have already reached out to the museum's director.

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The left of the blade says

MANSFIELD & LAMB
FORESTDALE

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And the right says

U.S.
J.N.W.
1862

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with J.N.W. being the inspector.

The pommel has D.F.C. engraved.

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This should be a different inspector, meaning that the sword was probably a repair or "out of 2 make 1" type of deal.

The hilt, or handguard, reads E.F.B. and it's quite the scratch work. This should be the owner of the sword.

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More in post #2.
 

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The handguard is pretty beat up and so is the blade. The blade was even sharpened, which to me looks like it was done more recently. The grip has a little play.

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My wife found out that Hollywood has purchased many post-civil war items after the war ended because these items were cheap. So, this sword might have seen real action in the war and then some more in movies. This could explain the condition.

I cannot see any markings on the scabbard drag, too rusty. But you can see a solder seam on one side of the sheath.

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According to another website I found, that indicates it was made before or during the war. If it doesn't have the seam then they used tubular steel and that procedure was done in the post civil-war period.

The only other marking on the scabbard I can find is what looks like a very faint letter M on the scabbard throat. Probably an inspector stamp as well?!

As always, any feedback is appreciated :)
 

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Nice! The replacement for "Old Wristbreaker." I'm just starting to learn about swords in my volunteer work at a local museum. The hammer marks on the end of the tang make me thing your "two into one" theory might be correct. Maybe even done in Hollywood.

I have only one sword in my personal collection, a 1913 Cavalry Saber, also known as the Patton Saber because he has a role in designing it when he was Master of the Sword at the Cavalry School.
 
Thanks for showing your sword. A number of my relatives used these in the Michigan Cavalry. I could not resist when a Roby model turned up for sale locally. Worse than yours in some ways, but better maybe in others.
Think of all the little boys who played with these over the years after the war!
 
That is a very cool item. Many stories it could tell.
 
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