GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
VERY RARE LEECH & RIGDON STAFF OFFICERS SWORD.You are bidding on a rare staff and field officer’s sword with an extra branch. These swords are known to be made and marketed by several firms, including Leech & Rigdon, Conning of Mobile, Alabama, Louis Bissonet of Mobile, and maybe others. Several variants are found in this pattern and the standard pattern though there are probably no more than a dozen of this rare style with extra branch extant. Some grips are cord wrapped, reminiscent of Leech & Rigdon, and some are carved, more reminiscent of Mobile products. This particular example has a rare & unique highly decorated pair of scabbard ring mounts which makes us feel this is a product probably sold by James Conning of Mobile. 29″ blade is well made, has an unstopped fuller and a half-round spine more typical of Mobile made swords. Blade has 20" etched decorated panels on either side with a blank panel for agent or maker and a blank panel on blade for presentation which is not discernible or never presented. Orig scabbard is top sewn & glued much like Ames and it is known that Conning was an agent for Ames pre-war and emulated his staff patterns & scabbards in his early manufacture. You are bidding on a very rare Confederate staff and field officer’s sword with a very defined "CS" cast in oval on hilt and orig scabbard. SIZE: CONDITION: Blade is gray with scattered nicks and sharpening of cutting edge, staining and pitting. Hilt and brass mounts exhibit mustard colored patina with several scratches and some old cleaning to hilt & scabbard mounts. Leather grip is 90% intact with wear & chipping to high edges and shrinkage at bottom & seam. Scabbard is supple & sound with crazing & cracking over most of its length. There are a set of initials carved in leather just below top mount, most likely of officer who carried this sword, crack repair in leather right above top mount. 48979-2 JS (12,000-15,000)