M1850 Foot Officer Sword With Wood Grip?

[VMI88]

I recently traded into an original M1850 Foot Officer Sword that has what appears to be a dark polished wood grip. There's no evidence that there was ever a ray or leather wrap as the wire fits tightly and there is no sign the pommel has ever been removed. Has anyone ever seen this variation? I haven't been able to find anything online.

 

I'm assuming this is an import sword as it is completely unmarked. It was probably of mediocre quality in its day since it has no etching on the blade and it has the unusual grip. I'm just curious in knowing exactly what it is -- does anyone have any idea?

 

Thanks,

 

Bill

[VMI88]

Another view:

[Spathologist]

Wood, or horn? If it's horn, and it looks like it from the pics, you have Wylie's number 35 variation 1...

[SARGE]

Wood, or horn? If it's horn, and it looks like it from the pics, you have Wylie's number 35 variation 1...

 

Yep, looks like horn to me as well. Possibly French made and without a US etching on the blade it may very well be a French sword rather than a US one. What does the scabbard look like? Can we see a shot of the blade ricasso near the guard?

[VMI88]

Thanks for the information! I believe you're correct that the grip is horn rather than wood. Unfortunately there is no scabbard.

 

Were these horn-gripped swords used in America during the Civil War? Without provenance there's obviously no way to know for sure whether it actually was used here or not, but I'd at least like to know whether the type was used.

 

Bill

[SARGE]

Thanks for the information! I believe you're correct that the grip is horn rather than wood. Unfortunately there is no scabbard.

 

Were these horn-gripped swords used in America during the Civil War? Without provenance there's obviously no way to know for sure whether it actually was used here or not, but I'd at least like to know whether the type was used.

 

Bill

 

Bill,

 

These French regulation swords with horn grips were imported into the US for use during the US Civil War. Without a US etching it is difficult to tell who used a specific sword and where. Some will be import marked or marked "Proved" or "Iron Proof" in English that can help show US use. Regulation US 1850 Foot Officer swords did have sharkskin grips but one will also find them made with grips of other materials such as leather.