How to learn about 2 original Civil War swords

ColonelWally

ColonelWally

Joined
Apr 7, 2024
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I recently inherited two all-original Civil War swords. I am on the fence about keeping them or not. Does anyone know where I can learn more about the history or details of each of these? I don't know year of manufacture or how to ID the inscribed officer's name.

I'd also be interested in getting a valuation or knowing where to best sell them. I live in Rochester, NY.
  • 30” G.W. Simmons & Co, Boston Mass, inscribed for “Jas Mc Cullan”.
  • 35” 1861 US GKC Sabre w/ scabbard and original leather sling. Made my Ames Mfg Co, Chicopee, Mass.
 

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Comparable swords go from $600 -$1500 depending on rarity. Ones by Ames are faked so have those checked by somebody.
 
The Ames sword looks suspect in the photos. I don't like the markings nor the grind.

n2s
 
These were both purchased from a seller in the mid-1960s along with an all-original 1864 Springfield musket, by my father. The musket has been authenticated. All three items have been in our family safe or on display since then. From what I have read over the years, there wasn't counterfeiting going on until after that period however I have not found an individual to perform a proper valuation. Was hoping to find one on the forum.
 
ColonelWally said:
These were both purchased from a seller in the mid-1960s along with an all-original 1864 Springfield musket, by my father. The musket has been authenticated. All three items have been in our family safe or on display since then. From what I have read over the years, there wasn't counterfeiting going on until after that period however I have not found an individual to perform a proper valuation. Was hoping to find one on the forum.
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Try the US Militaria Forum. Google those exact keywords. Somebody there will know, there are guys over there that know every little variant of every civil war era weapon. There's a dedicated subforum for civil war edged weapons there.
 
SimplyMinded said:
Try the US Militaria Forum. Google those exact keywords. Somebody there will know, there are guys over there that know every little variant of every civil war era weapon. There's a dedicated subforum for civil war edged weapons there.
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Thank you very much for the referral - I appreciate it.
 
The Ames cavalry sword looks OK to me. I agree the grind doesn't look great but... The address die showing its wear. The date may have been scrubbed, making it look less 4. The leather is right on that but the with the staff&staff corp sword, there is a question or three. If the hanger&knot are true (they look it), that adds to the package. Overall, it is probably nicer than it shows. Grade it like an NRA standard.

The Simmons sword does not seem to have a blade etch for U.S. military use, and also has a leather grip instead of shagreen. Simmons was a large clothier from 1835 until 1896. They did sell military uniform wares, so the swords would be part of their sales and maybe the personalized name was an add on as an officer but then again, no army connotation aside from the form itself. Some of the leather gripped swords are said to have been for some NCO use but they were also a common generic cadet/band/fraternal use. Ames catalog reprint has these for some I've mentioned. There was a period of the late 19th century that the 1860 staff sword was to be the sword for all officers, until the m1902 came along. The &Co puts it between the 1883-1896 period.

Cheers
GC
 
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horseclover said:
The Ames cavalry sword looks OK to me. I agree the grind doesn't look great but... The address die showing its wear. The date may have been scrubbed, making it look less 4. The leather is right on that but the with the staff&staff corp sword, there is a question or three. If the hanger&knot are true (they look it), that adds to the package. Overall, it is probably nicer than it shows. Grade it like an NRA standard.

The Simmons sword does not seem to have a blade etch for U.S. military use, and also has a leather grip instead of shagreen. Simmons was a large clothier from 1835 until 1896. They did sell military uniform wares, so the swords would be part of their sales and maybe the personalized name was an add on as an officer but then again, no army connotation aside from the form itself. Some of the leather gripped swords are said to have been for some NCO use but they were also a common generic cadet/band/fraternal use. Ames catalog reprint has these for some I've mentioned. There was a period of the late 19th century that the 1860 staff sword was to be the sword for all officers, until the m1902 came along. The &Co puts it between the 1883-1896 period.

Cheers
GC
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GC - thank you so much for the valuable response. I apologize for the delay in responding to your post but appreciate the input immensely. I'm likely going to keep them or have them put on loan in a local war museum to display. Where can I get a better assessment of value? I'm not familiar with grading them or the NRA standard.
 
You are quite welcome. :) ebay is a good guide. Search 'Ames saber' and then look at sold prices. The Simmons sword? Hard to price. I'm going to post a screenshot of one of Tom Nardi's pages, It has not been updated in a long time but it gives and idea of condition affecting value.

4T8PSLH.png


They would display well. I would hesitate to go to a museum with them. It would likely go into a storage hold and never seen. A V.F,W. Post might be the way to go, or just hang 'em in your man cave.

I tried the museum route once and the curator suggested leaving my number until it might fit a rotating display. I can also remember visiting a shop with the idea they would be interested in consigning some of my knives. He walked me back to with case upon case of Randalls (never mind). What we might think of as valuable and unique are often very common, or not really of interest. I don't like to post values but you could get an idea from watching 'Pawn Stars'. A pawn would hesitate to pay $25. The ACW saber? Probably stretching at a couple of hundred.


Cheers
GC
 
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