Antique Calvary Sword

Spent the last fifty or so years in a basement or closet. Seems to be a model 1864 which is pretty common, I guess. Could never find a makers mark, and not too sure if that is unusual or not. The one's I would see on ebay seemed pretty easy to Id. Just has the 1864 and U.S. on the hilt. (the one is worn off) There is a number 25 marked on the handle, but that's all I can find. Any ideas?

 

The Model 1860 Light Cavalry Saber (also known as the M1862 as this was when the first 800 were issued)[1] was used by US cavalry from the American Civil War[2] until the end of the Indian wars; some were still in use during the Spanish–American War.[3] It was 41 inches (104 cm) long with a 35 by 1 in (88.9 by 2.5 cm) blade and weighed 2 lb 4 oz (1.0 kg) alone or 3 lb 10 oz (1.6 kg) with iron scabbard.[2]

Before the Civil War there was no light or heavy cavalry in the US army. Instead there were "Dragoons" (founded 1830) and "Mounted Riflemen" (founded c.1840). [4] In 1861 these mounted regiments were renamed cavalry and given yellow piping.[5]

The M1860 saber received its name to distinguish it from the larger and heavier Model 1840 Heavy Cavalry Saber that it replaced. Like its predecessor it had a brass guard, leather-wrapped grip and steel scabbard but unlike the M1840 it was smaller and easier to handle.[6]

By the end of the Civil War over 300,000 1860 sabers had been produced: 200,000 by Ames, 32,000 by Roby and many more by firms such as Tiffany and Co, Glaze, Justice, and Emerson and Silver

Can you confirm the dimensions & weight ???

 

It doesn't look like the Roby model.......just sayin..

 

The length of the sword is approx 41 inches and the blade alone is 35. Blade is curved and I'm using a tape measure. It's weight is just under 2.2 lbs.

 

well that helps to make it legit......but you'd have to see all the makers marks to see if any is a match to yours, before knowing who made it.

I wonder , if when found someone tried cleaning it to a point they messed with the marks..??

 

As someone mentioned, it's CAVALRY not Calvary which is a place. If you are searching, you want to use the correct spelling.