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 sword has only about 60 percent of the leather grip wrap and some carbon staining on the blade, but it also has much to recommend it, such as the exceptionally nice scabbard, the etched blade, that is not the best, but is more legible than most. The hilt has a beautiful reddish patina and remains tight. The copper wire wrap remains tight.

It also has a bit of extra history; scratched into the top scabbard mount, running all the way around, it reads as best I can determine on a fairly quick inspection: "Presented to A B…. by …… NY……

I am sure that more of this can be made out with time and effort, but I could see enough to tell it was presented from one Yankee to another, and I did not care to spend the time to figure out their names, but it likely can be done. I do not guarantee this however. What I can say for sure is that the sword was captured, and one Yankee presented it to another Yankee during the War.

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