The Confederate Government purchased tens of thousands of English Model 1853 Cavalry swords during the War Between the States. Most came from Isaac & Company, and this sword has the most recognized ISAAC & Co. mark on the blade’s spine.

S. Isaac, Campbell & Co. supplied numerous articles of war to the fledgling Confederacy. Isaac has long been considered a New Yorker, but new research has definitively shown that to be incorrect. A recent work attributes Isaac to having been a native Brit; he had long been a well-established military outfitter in 1861. Fortunately, he partnered with Campbell at the beginning of the War, so we can distinguish his Confederate supplies from his British supplies. Campbell was an attorney and apparently no more than a financier. The firm supplied the Confederacy with knapsacks, cartridge boxes, belts, cap boxes, swords, buttons and firearms of English manufacture. Occasionally, P53 swords are found bearing Isaac & Campbell’s mark. These marked pieces are strictly Confederate and are highly sought after by collectors. As uncommon as they are, they are relatively plentiful compared to examples of the "G” marked swords.

The sword shown here is solid, unaltered condition, but it does have a significant amount of carbon staining, but only slight, surface pitting near the point. There are no edge nicks. It has never been worked on or repointed. The perfect iron grip remains tight; the throat washer is a good replacement. The leather grip has some flaking of the patent but remains perfectly tight. It is sheathed in its correct, original scabbard. It is in good condition but has three dents.

Both the hilt and the scabbard have a deep, original and attractive patina.