This one of a kind sword is a Model 1830 Naval Officer’s Sword, southern imported, and which has been resheathed in a totally unique, custom Boyle & Gamble scabbard. The sword was originally made by Joseph Rodgers & Sons of Sheffield, England and imported into Norfolk, Virginia in 1831 by Mr. C. Hall. Mr. Hall was a large merchant who sold everything from swords to books, pianos and other musical instruments and owned stores in Richmond, Petersburg, and Norfolk, Virginia.

Mr. Hall was born in New York in 1792, he married his young wife Sarah there and afterwards moved to Virginia in his twenties, operating his business enterprises by at least 1826. Hall had a business relationship with Joseph Rodgers & Sons from as early as 1827, selling Rodgers made razors in his store.

On March 14, 1831 Hall advertised in the American Beacon and the Norfolk and Portsmouth Daily Advertiser that he had ordered, "New Regulation Naval Swords, Made precisely agreeable to the Engraved Pattern of the Navy Commissioners…from Messrs. Joseph Rogers (sic) & Sons…” of Sheffield. "Great pains have been taken to have these swords made in the very best manner, the gilding is warranted to stand the sea air. The subscriber being the Importer is determined to sell them as low if not lower, than they can be had in the United States.”[i] These swords were to be of the new regulation pattern of 1830.

These swords imported by Mr. Hall have frequently been misidentified as Model 1841 Naval Officer’s Swords in books and online articles. This is incorrect, the most notable difference between this 1830 and the 1841 pattern swords is that the 1841s do not include the circular wreath of stars seen in between the fouled anchor and the live oak branch on the blade.[ii]

By 1860 Mr. Hall was 68 years old and had become very wealthy, having a combined personal and estate value of $102,960.00. This would be about $4,000,000.00 in today’s money.

The second part of this story begins with the sword’s scabbard, instead of the ornate regulation scabbard this sword was sold with, it was resheathed by the Richmond, Virginia sword making firm of Boyle & Gamble. Boyle and Gamble started sword production in 1861, and were before that saw makers along with their sister company Burger & Brothers.

Edwin Boyle & Thomas Gamble manufactured all manner of edged weapons for the Confederacy including officer’s swords, artillery swords, cavalry swords, bayonets and Bowie knives, both for private purchase by officers and for direct Confederate Government contracts. Boyle & Gamble are perhaps best known for making the C S & Star Confederate Staff and Field Officer’s Sword; which is an icon of Confederate collecting.

Featuring Boyle & Gamble’s top seamed leather and small sized Boyle & Gamble mounts, this scabbard is a unique product of the firm. It appears that this was one of the private purchase items made by the firm specifically for this sword.

Almost certainly this sword was purchased from Mr. Hall’s store in the 1830s by a U.S. Naval Officer stationed at Norfolk. When the conflict for Southern Independence broke out in 1861, he, or a younger relative may have followed after the family tradition and enlisted in the Confederate Navy. At some point his scabbard must have been lost or damaged and while in Richmond, Virginia during the War, he ordered a new, custom-made leather scabbard from the firm of Boyle & Gamble to resheath his now, Confederate Naval sword.

The sword’s hilt is as tight as the day it was made, as is the rest of the guard. The grip’s backstrap slightly flexes when pressed at the front, but this may have been how it was made as there simply appears to be nothing pinning the metal strap in place. Either way, when not pressed this leaves a small gap between the strap and top of the grip. The grip is made of beautifully carved bone and remains 100% intact. There are several small hairline age fractures lengthwise on the grip. The bone has taken on a very pleasing yellowed patina. The rotating langets’ spring actions remain strong and work flawlessly. Due to a difference in patinas, I believe the obverse langet has been replaced with one of the correct pattern from another sword. Aside from this langet, almost all of the gilt remains on the hilt.

The blade remains in beautiful condition, with almost all of its bluing and gilt remaining intact, and with the rest of the blade bright with some carbon staining.

The decorations on the blade were made by first engraving the anchor, wreath of stars, and live oak branch into the metal. Then bluing the blade from the hilt to a little over halfway. After this, the anchor, wreath of stars, and live oak branch were gilted, leaving a very pleasing appearance. The maker’s mark near the reverse ricasso is perfect, remaining 100% intact. The stylishly etched panel reads,

"Manufactured

FOR

C. HALL

NORFOLK V^a”

Its original Boyle & Gamble scabbard is in excellent condition, with the leather even being still soft and flexible. It is possible that there is a repair in between the lower mount and the drag, but if so, it was done so well that even the most trained eye with magnification cannot be certain. (it may just be someone colored a scuff) The original Boyle & Gamble mounts and drag are complete.

This sword was once a part of renowned sword collector Kevin Hoffman’s collection.

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