CONFEDERATE SHARP & HAMILTON CAVALRY SABER.

Overall length: 42". Blade length: 36". This Confederate saber represents one of the most difficult Confederate cavalry sabers to acquire. Sharp & Hamilton worked in Nashville, TN on the Franklin Turnpike and produced arms for the Confederacy. Sharp & Hamilton rented a building and equipment from A.W. Putnam and the firm was known locally as the Tennessee Plow Works or Putnam’s Plow Factory. After a devastating fire, the building was rebuilt and the company was reformed as the more familiar Nashville Plow Works. This saber represents a product of Sharp & Hamilton prior to the catastrophic fire. Unlike many examples, this saber is marked, “SHARP & HAMILTON” and “NASHVILLE TENN”. Blade has a single unstopped fuller and is marked on the ricasso in a cartouche like stamp, “NASHVILLE TENN / SHARP & HAMILTON”. Cast brass guard with solid teardrop quillon. Iron backstrap and ferrule with leather grip. Iron scabbard with iron throat and drag. Brass ring mounts with iron suspension rings. Scabbard has a wide leaded seam running the length of the scabbard. CONDITION: blade has a medium gray mottled patina. The marks at the ricasso can be easily read. Hilt is undamaged. Leather is only slightly flaked. Scabbard is exceptionally solid and even retains a portion of leather hanging strap through the top ring. (02-14529/BF). $15,000-18,000.