Original U.S. Grand Army of the Republic Post 399 Civil War Model 1860 Army Staff and Field Officer Sword Presented to Commander Pascal T. Hubbard in 1903 with Scabbard
In stock
-
Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is an outstanding post-Civil War Model 1860 Staff & Field Officer’s Sword manufactured or retailed by J.A. Joel & Co. of New York with a German-made blade, formally presented on May 19th, 1903 to Past Commander Pascal T. Hubbard of C.D. McKenzie Post No. 399, Grand Army of the Republic. The nickel-plated scabbard carries a full presentation inscription naming Hubbard and the post, and the provenance is strengthened considerably by a period newspaper account describing the presentation of a sword and belt to Hubbard by his comrades, reading:
C.D. Mackenzie Post No. 399 at its encampment on Tuesday evening, presented to Past Commander Pascal T. Hubbard a handsome sword and belt. Past Commander John R. Kimball made the presentation address. Comrade Hubbard was the first commander of Mackenzie Post and has long been a faithful and efficient Grand Army worker.
Hubbard was in the 2nd Connecticut Regiment during the war. According to another article, “Hubbard claims the distinguished honor of being the first man of the Union Army to cross onto the sacred soil of Virginia. This came about because the 2nd Regiment was in Keyes’ Brigade, which was the first in the division, and, as Hubbard was orderly sergeant, he was the first man to cross.”
Although it is an edged weapon, this post-war version of the M1860 sword was primarily intended for use in ceremonies. The blade, measuring 30 inches in length, is straight, double-edged, and has a diamond-shaped cross-section. The folding guard still works fine. The blade is adorned on both sides with etched foliate and a military panoply of arms. The blade has some heavy age discoloration spots and oxidation, particularly towards the bottom. It it marked at the ricasso:
J.A.
JOEL & CO.
NEW YORK
And on the other side:
Made in
Germany
The Sword hilt is brass, with the handle having a sharkskin-wrapped wood handle with the wire wrap still present, although there is some loss of the sharkskin. The steel scabbard has a great nickel-plating which is well-retained. Both mounts exhibit a floral display. The top mount sports two rings while the lower mount has only one. The scabbard is engraved on one side:
PRESENTED TO
PAST COMDR. P.T. HUBBARD
BY HIS COMRADES OF
C.D. MCKENZIE POST NO. 399 G.A.R.
MAY 19TH, 1903
The significance of this sword lies in the unusually complete chain of identification. The 1903 dated presentation inscription, named GAR post, named recipient, J.A. Joel & Co. retailer marking, German blade, and surviving newspaper notice describing the exact presentation combine to make this far more than a standard veterans’ association sword. It is a documented commemorative artifact presented to a named Union veteran by the GAR post he helped lead, preserving the continuing institutional memory of the Civil War nearly four decades after Appomattox.
Dimensions:
Blade length: 30”
Overall length: 36 1/2”
Scabbard length: 31 1/4"
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
We Buy Military Antiques
Our team expert buyers travels the world to pay fair prices for entire estate collections to singular items.
START SELLING TODAY
