VorpelSword
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2007
- Messages
- 1,481
Some years ago a sword was given to me. At first look it seems to be a run-of-the-mill Civil War Saber, but a closer look and a bit of a search may say different. So here are the details.
Model 1860 US Cavalry Light Saber
The scabbard is intact, lacking only the leather throat washer. Portions of the hangar straps are still attached. The grip is complete and tight. The brass hand guard has been slightly bent in use. The blade is straight and retains etching
The blade is marked on the flat part close to the handle on one side with: US, CEW, 1862 and on the other side; D.J.MILLARD. Millard owned The Paris Furnace Company in Claysville, New York which made farm tools. In December of 1861 he got a federal contract to make 10,000 Model 1860 sabers. These were all produced in 1862 and marked with that date. Charles W. Wilson was a government arsenal inspector and his initials are stamped above the date. This is the smallest lot of the 300,000 contract sabers produced for the Union during the Civil War; making the Millard sabers only 3% of the total.
This saber was authenticated in in 2005 by Collectors Firearms in Houston with a written certificate. At that time the appraised value was $600. I have since then seen similar pieces offered online at twice that. In conversation, they said thet the small contract run had no affect on the desirability to collectors and no additional premium would apply.
Anybody have any thoughts on this?
Please note that I am NOT asking for a dollar amount value, but for an evaluation of the desirability to collectors.
Model 1860 US Cavalry Light Saber
The scabbard is intact, lacking only the leather throat washer. Portions of the hangar straps are still attached. The grip is complete and tight. The brass hand guard has been slightly bent in use. The blade is straight and retains etching
The blade is marked on the flat part close to the handle on one side with: US, CEW, 1862 and on the other side; D.J.MILLARD. Millard owned The Paris Furnace Company in Claysville, New York which made farm tools. In December of 1861 he got a federal contract to make 10,000 Model 1860 sabers. These were all produced in 1862 and marked with that date. Charles W. Wilson was a government arsenal inspector and his initials are stamped above the date. This is the smallest lot of the 300,000 contract sabers produced for the Union during the Civil War; making the Millard sabers only 3% of the total.
This saber was authenticated in in 2005 by Collectors Firearms in Houston with a written certificate. At that time the appraised value was $600. I have since then seen similar pieces offered online at twice that. In conversation, they said thet the small contract run had no affect on the desirability to collectors and no additional premium would apply.
Anybody have any thoughts on this?
Please note that I am NOT asking for a dollar amount value, but for an evaluation of the desirability to collectors.
