Boyle & Gamble was the Confederacy’s most prolific maker of officer’s swords and the company’s field and staff officer’s sword is easily the most recognized sword produced during the Confederate era. This sword is designated a Field and Staff Sword because of the C S cast into the guard. This is a throwback to the U.S. Regulation Field and Staff where officers, major and above, were authorized to carry such a sword. This was a very lax standard in the Confederate Army, where everyone used anything that they could get.

There is much symbolism cast into the counter guard of this sword. The corn represents the South’s agricultural base, the laurel wreath, the valor of the Confederate soldier and the star over "C S” is the rising star of the Confederacy.

This retains all of its original leather grip wrap except one small place the size of a BB where it appears to have been struck or nicked, and a few places where only the patent is chipped. It’s single strand, brass wire wrap is complete, original and tight. The grip wrap still has the sheen of its original patent. The grip and guard are as tight as when it was made. The throat washer is a replacement. The guard has a beautiful deep, dark, untouched natural patina. The sword still has an original, Confederate made woven leather sword knot, which is excellent condition. This is a rare and valuable artifact in its own right.

The semi-bright blade is etched with the Confederate Battle Flag, a CSA in a shield, and the standard Boyle & Gamble vine pattern etching. The etching is easily seen by the naked eye, but is too light to photograph well. There is some minor carbon staining and loss of surface which I show in the photographs. The nick free blade has never been sharpened or pointed. There are traces of white paint on the ricasso, that clearly had a number, now illegible painted onto it and there is a yellowed old tag attached to one of the scabbard’s ring mounts identifying the sword as a Confederate "Foot Officer’s Saber” which is incorrect, but the tag is a part of the sword’s history and should remain with it.

The sword is still sheathed in its original, correct Boyle & Gamble scabbard. And it is a beauty; it has never even been bent and the tooled decorative lines are still distinct. It is truly one of the best Boyle & Gamble scabbards that I have ever seen. The scabbard’s mounts have the same deep, dark, untouched patina as the hilt. The mounts remain tight. The top seam remains completely tight. It is virtually perfect.

Seldom does a Boyle & Gamble Staff and Field Officer’s Sword this nice come to the market. And it is just as hard to find one that has not been altered/cleaned or screwed with in any way.

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