Civil War Model 1850 Presentation Sword
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GUEST:
My stepdad was a chief warrant officer in World War II out of Leavenworth, Kansas and part of the Buffalo Soldiers regiment out of there. He collected military items, but this particular item was hanging in the shed in the back of the house. After he passed away, it was kind of like the sword disappeared for a while, and then we were rutting around out there one day, and she turned up.
APPRAISER:
The sword itself is a presentation-grade sword, model 1850, staff and field officer sword. We have the U.S. in the guard, we have the fancy eagle up on the... this is called the quillion.
GUEST:
And I notice she had... is that a ruby in one eye, or lost the other ruby?
APPRAISER:
They're imitation rubies. The sword was made in Hartford, Connecticut, by the firm of Collins & Company.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
It's marked on the back of the blade, and we also have the production date of 1862.
GUEST:
Wow, okay.
APPRAISER:
Which is kind of neat, because in August of 1862, Captain Anthony was allowed to raise a battery of artillery. And we have on the mount his name, we have the 17th New York, which was the state that he was from, and we also have September 1862, when he was given the sword. So a month later it was given to him, and it says "by the soldiers in his command." And what's cool is, there's so many times that you think, where was his sword? What was he doing when he had it? How did it look when he was wearing it? Would you like to see how he looked when he was wearing it?
GUEST:
I'd love to!
APPRAISER:
I was able to find a picture...
GUEST:
Oh, my gosh!
APPRAISER:
...of him, and that's this sword on his side.
GUEST:
Oh, my Lord!
APPRAISER:
We can tell because of that pretty eagle with the red eyes.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
That's it, hanging out of the side.
GUEST:
Oh, my Lord, how wonderful.
APPRAISER:
And another neat thing about him, he went on to be the governor of Kansas in 1876.
GUEST:
Okay, terrific.
APPRAISER:
And he's a cool looking guy.
GUEST:
Yes, he is.
APPRAISER:
The sword's got a few bumps and bruises. It's missing the drag down near you, and those come off, because all that held it on was one little screw. In today's world, this is a sword that would retail for about $3,000.
GUEST:
You're kidding. In this condition?
APPRAISER:
In this condition, because we know who it is. Without that inscription, same sword, same condition, you'd be lucky to get $1,000 out of it.
GUEST:
Wow.
APPRAISER:
But it's not often that you get a chance to... (laughing)
GUEST:
(laughing) We've had it wrapped in a rug under the bed! Who knew?
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