Original Item: Only One Available. The U.S. Model of 1872 Light Cavalry Saber was the second in the series of light cavalry sabers used by the United States. The design was used in the U.S. from about 1872, through the Indian Wars and skirmishes of the 1870's, 1880's and 1890's.

This sword, unlike its predecessor, the Model 1860 Light Cavalry, was considered a minor improvement, although many were still not satisfied. The weight of the sword was less when compared to the Model of 1840 (Wristbreaker) and Model of 1860 (aka New Model). This sword was plagued with many manufacturing defects and ultimately led to the creation of a replacement, the Model of 1904. The noticeable difference is a smaller, sleek-appearing blade (almost fragile in appearance). The hilt appears to be a cross between the 1840 and 1860.

This example is named to O.A. Glazebrook, which identifies it to Reverend Otis Allan Glazebrook.

This 39 ½ Inch long example is good with some heavy wear and the expected patina of age. The curved 34 inch nickel-plated blade is in good condition, and has lovely etched designs on both sides, showing standard foliate and military motifs. One side has O.A. Glazebrook., while the other side has U. S. marked, both in lovely Gothic script. The edge has not been sharpened, correct for a dress sword, though there is a bit of denting. The plating is well retained, showing some minor flaking and oxidation to the steel base metal. The blade is marked on the ricasso with the maker / distributer:

B.M.
WHITLOCK
NEW YORK
N.Y.

The grip is solid on the full length tang, and the guard is still mostly tight with a tiny bit of play, even with the leather blade buffer still intact. The grip still has most of the leather wrapping intact, with the original twisted brass wires resting in the grooves of the grip, with some heavy wear overall. The brass hilt is still in nice shape, though it does show some denting and deformation. It is a typical cast example, with a very decorative pommel and guard.

The scabbard is in fair shape, with all mounts intact. Both suspension rings are intact.

Otis Allan Glazebrook was born at Richmond, Virginia, October 1845, the son of Larkin White Glazebrook (1820-1866) and America Henley Bullington (1824-1905). He was educated at Randolph-Macon College. An article in The Sunday Call (Newark, N.J.) says: "Otis Glazebrook, when a mere lad in knickerbockers; evidenced an unusual aptitude for his studies, and distanced his class-mates in every class with ease. He was never satisfied except he stood at the head of his class in every study - And yet as a lad, the future preacher took an active interest in sports of all kinds, and played 'shinny' and baseball, which was just beginning to be known among the college boys. So well did young Glazebrook play the national game that he was appointed captain of the baseball team when in college, and he caught on the team when the big stuffed glove was not in vogue, and many a bruised finger fell to the lot of the catcher." When withdrew from the union, he was sent immediately to the Virginia Military Institute, where he was educated as an officer for the Confederate Army, and fought under Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, he was was a member of the squad that buried Stonewall Jackson. After Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Otis resumed his studies.

The Military School at Lexington had never encouraged Greek letter societies, and there were none before the war. Although the Institute was practically discontinued during the last years of the war , it was the first to revive after peace had been declared, and therefore offered the first opportunity for the re-establishment of such societies in the South. "The Earliest Days of Alpha Tau Omega," by Otis Allan Glazebrook (Official Register of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity 1865-1903, pages xx, xxi) he writes: "In the summer of 1865, Cadet Otis Allan Glazebrook, whom it was known would return to the Institute, was approached as to the feasibility of establishing a Greek letter fraternity at that Collage. The project did not commend itself to cadet Glazebrook at first, but the suggestion put him to thinking, and he determined to work out a plan of such a society as he thought would be best adapted to the new conditions in the South. He prepared the constitution and the form of initiation, these being written out by him at his fathers residence in Richmond, Virginia. He had two friends in the same city, with whom his relations were especially cordial and for whose character he had very high regard. He invited them to his father's house on the evening of September 11, 1865, and submitted to them his putpose and plan, as embodied in what he had written, and invited them to join him in the formation of a Greek letter society to be known as 'Alpha Tau Omega." These friends were Erskine Mayo Ross and Alfred Marshall.

He attended the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia, and was ordained Deacon in the Episcopal Church 1868, and Priest in 1869. In September of 1865 he was recommended to the Vestry of St. John's Church Elizabeth, New Jersey, by Bishop Peterkin of West Virginia, and the Rev. Alexander Mackay-Smith (later Bishop of Pennsylvania), starting on the 1st November. Dr. Glazebrook served St. John's for 27 years, retiring in the spring of 1913. In 1914 he was appointed American representative at Jerusalem by President Woodrow Wilson, where he remained throughout the First World war, until 1920. He was responsible for the distribution of Jewish relief funds, in which he received much assistance from his second wife. In 1920 he became American Consul in Nice, France, until March 1929, when he retired. He died at sea, Sunday, 26 April 1931 (GRO, Marine Deaths: Age 85, vessel "Belgenland").

Overall a great chance to pick up a great identified U.S. Light Cavalry Saber with a lovely etched blade. Complete with scabbard, just missing the drag, this is ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade length: 34”
Overall length: 39 1/2”
Guard dimensions: 4" width x 5” length
Scabbard length: 35 1/2”