M1872 US CAVALRY SABER WITH SCABBARD

Description

S197P, Officer's grade saber. Continuing the custom of expecting officer's to outfit themselves, a number of military outfitting businesses sprang up to provide career soldiers with everything they needed, from uniforms, equipment's, special tents and stoves and gleaming weaponry of a wide variety, all to fit American regulations and designs for the military. Officer's swords were a specialty and this saber with scabbard is typical of the genre. A few inches shorter and a little less wide in the blade, thy sported some highly decorative military designs, from acid etching of the blades with military motifs and casting specially designed hilts and handguards and pommels for the decorative handles. This specimen has a 32" blade in the 1860 wrist breaker style (just a few inches shorter and a little less wide) that is finely acid etched with military designs, the American eagle with motto and war flags. The maker's name on the ricasso reads; RAUCHUT & CO PHILADELPHIA PA, as well as a blank panel on the other side of the blade for the name of the outfit identity to be added later (still vacant now.) The wood grip retains the brass braided wire and the leather cover for the wood grip (well worn from handling.) The brass hilt designs of eagles, banners and such and the steel scabbard has both rings intact with throat and tip (but plating has worn off a lot.) These are quite rare today of course, as the officer's corps was a small minority in the US Army. Overall length sheathed 40". Good used condition, all original and complete, ship weight is 5 pounds.