Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of the principal cavalry saber used in the U.S. Civil War of 1860-1865. It has all brass mounts with wood with leather wrapped sword grip and mostly intact bound brass wire wrap.
The curved blade is marked on one side-
&
SILVER
TRENTON
NJ
One the other side it is marked-
DFM
1863
DFM is the marking for Union Government Inspector Dexter F. Mosman at the sword factory during the period of the Civil War. The markings are all clear and can be seen on the blade's ricasso and on the brass pommel.
The brass hand guard exhibits a nice patina and has not been cleaned nor has this sword ever been taken apart.
The saber comes with the original all steel-curved scabbard complete with both mounting rings.
Offered in very nice collector's condition, original Civil War Cavalry Swords are getting harder and harder to find every year!
The Model 1860 Light Cavalry Saber (also known as the M1862 as this was when the first 800 were issued) was used by US cavalry from the American Civil War until the end of the Indian wars; some were still in use during the SpanishAmerican War. It was 41in long with a 35in by 1in blade and weighed 2 lb 4oz alone or 3 lb 10oz with iron scabbard.
During the Civil War there was no light or heavy cavalry in the US army. Instead there were "Dragoons" (founded 1830) "Mounted Riflemen", (founded c.1840) and "Cavalry" (founded 1856), distinguished by the orange, green or yellow piping on their uniforms. In 1861 these mounted regiments were renamed cavalry and given yellow piping.
The M1860 saber received its name to distinguish it from the larger and heavier Model 1840 Heavy Cavalry Saber that it replaced. Like its predecessor it had a brass guard, leather-wrapped grip and steel scabbard but unlike the M1840 it was smaller and easier to handle.
By the end of the Civil War over 300,000 1860 sabers had been produced: 200,000 by Ames, 32,000 by Roby and many more by firms such as Tiffany and Co, Glaze, Justice, and Emerson and Silver. M1860s were carried not only by cavalry but also by many infantry and staff officers as the regulation Model 1850 Army Staff & Field Officers' Sword had to be privately purchased. High-ranking officers, like their European counterparts, often had their swords ornately engraved with gilding and foliage. Famous users included George Armstrong Custer and J.E.B. Stuart.
Later in the Civil War large cavalry charges became less common and the cavalry took on the role of skirmishers. Many replaced their sabers with extra revolvers, or left it in the saddle while fighting on foot with their repeating Henry rifles and Spencer carbines.
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