This is a very rare version of a Civil War staff & field officer's sword and scabbard. The hand guard on this one is very special This is the style that was made in
Germany and imported here to the United States for retail sale to well-to-do Union officers. This one has a full-length blade with a light gray tone all over. You can see a superb amount of the original etching on the blade of the sword on each side. On the front side of the blade it has the beautiful spread wing union eagle along with the "E PLURIBUS UNUM" motto of the
U.S. On the back of the blade it has the vividly clear "
US" in ornate letters. This is one of the swords that would have been made in Solingen,
Germany. Companies in Solingen manufactured many quality edged weapons during the Civil War such as this one. They would be made in
Germany and imported to be sold by the quality retailers of the day like Horstmann. These non-regulation staff officer swords stand out from the rest because of the hand guard. It has the oval disk with the eagle design in the center of the guard. The eagle is turned to the side above the shield with the script style "US" on it. There is the banner coming out of the eagle's mouth with "E PLURIBUS UNUM" motto. The guard is the style that is made of iron and as you can see it has a gorgeous untouched color to the metal. This one still has the original handle intact and as you can see it has a nice well worn look. It has the original spring wire intact and it still has the flanking strands. About 95% of the original sharkskin grip is still present. The sword is accompanied by the original all metal scabbard. Again the scabbard is the all iron version which is correct and original to the sword. The scabbard is complete with both rings, mounts, drag and throat. This sword drag at the bottom has the look of a weapon that you can tell saw service. It makes you wonder where it was at during the war.
