Little is known about the Montgomery, Alabamabased military goods dealers known as Halfmann & Taylor. Taylor’s identity is lost to history. Ethelbert Halfmann was a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania clothier in the 1850s, before coming to Montgomery, Alabama in 1856. His tailoring and clothier business prospered in Montgomery so he closed his Philadelphiastore in 1858. When the War Between the States erupted he sided with the South. He traveled to Europe to purchase clothing and military goods for the Confederacy. The manufacture of the sword shown here must have been arranged at that time. Swords and buttons bearing Halfmann & Taylor’s firm name are the only known surviving tangible result of his trip to Europe. His military outfitting foray came to an end only a few months after it began; he died in Havana in January of 1863 while trying to make arrangements to run the blockade.

The swords that Halfmann had custom made in London, Englandare some of the most aesthetically appealing of the Confederate era. The swords made for Halfmann & Taylor in London started out as British Model 1822 officer’s swords with the standard iron basket. The Londonmaker cut out the engraved infantry horn that was centrally located in the basket and soldered in an iron disc engraved with the Confederate droop winged eagle surmounted by eleven stars.