Tens of thousands of Pattern 1853 (P53) Cavalry swords were purchased by the Confederate government during the War Between the States.

Purchased in England by Confederate allied agents, the swords were shipped to the neutral ports of Bermuda, Havana or Nassau. Here they were reloaded into swift moving blockade-running ships, which under cover of darkness slipped into Confederate controlled ports.

Like the Enfield rifles imported by the Confederacy, most were unmarked and cannot be positively identified as Confederate used. There are only a few ways to identify the Confederate imports. This sword is marked MOLE on the blade’s spine and features a brass guard. These can be identified as Confederate because the British used only iron guards for their own troops, brass being softer and much easier to deform, but less expensive, and its similarity to the Courtney and Tennent marked cutlass’s brass guards. These, combined with those that have been identified to Confederate Cavalrymen leave no doubt as to this being the case. The Federal Government would no more have them than the British.

The sword is in stunning condition. This is as close to mint new as a 160 year old sword can be. The brass hilt is perfect save a few miniscule dings in the front of the basket. Because these brass guards were so weak, when found today, they have almost always been repaired because they were almost always broken at the weak point near the hilt on the outer branch. Even if you do not see this break, it has likely been broken and repaired. This sword’s hilt has never been broken and is just as it was made in the factory in England 160 years ago. The pressed leather grips are virtually perfect, with almost no flaking. Only the throat washer is a replacement. The blade is totally perfect in every way; it could have come out of the factory yesterday. The spine marking is absolutely stunning, totally as crisp and clear as a modern marking. The scabbard is virtually perfect, with only a few almost imperceptible pushes. In other words, there are few of the Confederate imported and used swords in existence that remain in such fine condition.

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