Unmarked Confederate Enlisted Cavalry Saber by Memphis Novelty Works
American Civil War
34.875" curved, single-edged blade with a 28.25" unstopped median fuller. Flat spine, width at ricasso is 1.1875". Overall length is 41.25". 6" hilt with cast brass guard featuring two branches and a knuckle bow. The sides and interior of the knuckle bow are filed flat, typical of these Memphis-made swords, while the branches retain their rounded shape. The hilt has a crude, somewhat squat Phrygian helmet pommel cap and the brass castings show some minor flaws along with some rough finishing and file marks. Leather covered wood grip with 11 grooves and only the trace remnants of twisted wire wrapping. The inner face of the upper portion of the guard has the period initials RFL lightly and carefully scratched into it. The saber is accompanied by a wonderfully crude lap-seamed japanned sheet iron scabbard with brass mountings. The scabbard has a crudely finished cast brass throat and pair of suspension mounts, with the mounts having iron split rings as hangers. The split rings have a nominal exterior diameter of 1". The drag is brass as well, with slightly better finishing. Overall a solid and honest example of an unmarked Memphis Novelty Works saber with a nice set of period initials inside the guard and wonderful Confederate scabbard.
This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Very good. Blade with a moderately oxidized mottled gray patina with scattered areas of surface discoloration. The very tip of the blade appears to be slightly rounded and there is some light pitting near the tip. Guard with a rich golden patina and showing scattered impact marks. Grip with much of the leather intact but the wire almost entirely missing. Scabbard heavily oxidized with some traces of the black japanning intact, mixed with a dark brown patina and moderate amounts of surface roughness. Brass mounts heavily oxidized as well.