This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
This sword is rare on many counts: as a Confederate sword, a high-quality officer’s sword, one made by a sought-after Confederate maker, one solidly identified to a C.S. Maryland officer, and to an officer serving in the Confederate Marine Corps, with active service in Stuart’s cavalry and Pelham’s horse artillery to boot. The sword is pictured and discussed the Military Collector and Historian 39.3 (Fall, 1987), as well as pictured on pgs. 192-193 of “Band of Brothers”, and pgs. 208-211 in “Confederate Presentation & Inscribed Swords & Revolvers”. The sword is impressive, and worthy of publication in multiple texts. Although the sword displays crude qualities which are typical of Confederate weapons, Kraft, Goldschmidt, and Kraft are desired for their superior quality. The hilt of this staff and field officer’s sword is of brass, with a pommel that is decorated with thick laurel leaves, center indentations, and berries on the obverse side. A center seam that was not completely polished out is noticed at the center and interestingly divides the laurel leaves from lush oak leaves and acorns which decorate the reverse side of the pommel, that leads to a tired cap, stamped with the number “33” twice. The cast D-shaped knucklebow originates from the base of the cap and starts with the face of a gargoyle and appears as a flower stem. The wonderfully pierced guard forms from the knucklebow, which resembles the head of a budding flower, with the beautifully cast foliate motifs springing to life on the rest of the guard. The guard features the small letters “CS” contained in a lush vignette. 3 types of leaves adorn the guard, with laurel leaves, alive with berries ornamenting the counterguard, while oak leaves surround the “CS”, and abstract acanthus leaves surround the base of the blade. The guard terminates with a thick, leafy quillon. The Roman numerals “VIII” are cast on the counterguard. The inside of the guard and knucklebow is smooth. A thick brass ferrule secures the grooved wood grip, wrapped with brown leather, and a single strand of brass wire accommodated by the spirals. The blade is broad, mostly straight, features a single fuller, and slightly rounded back. Decorated for about half its length, the blade features simple, yet attractive, etched decorations. The decorations begin with the maker mark, etched on the ricasso, and reads “K.G. & K.”. Broad maple leaves and clusters of line decorated cotton bolls lead to a Confederate shield with crossed halberd and spontoon and are followed by crossed cannons, a broad bundle of leaves, ending with broad maple style leaves and cotton blossoms. The etched panel terminates with a pointed spire. The reverse is similarly ornamented, with the decorations commencing just above the ricasso and features a sun with extended rays that contains the letters “SC” over the word “Columbia”. The sun rays point upward toward broad leaves that lead to the letters “C.S.” flanked by plush shell palmettes. A stand of cannonballs or perhaps more cotton bolls are followed by broad, leafy scrolls and a branch, plentiful with cotton that terminates with the panel in the shape of a pointed spire. The sword is complete with its iron scabbard that features a bell mouthed throat that is secured to the scabbard by 2 screws. The throat secures 2 pieces of wood inside the scabbard which appear to line the body. Mounts are of brass and are brazed to the scabbard body. Upper and middle mount consist of a line decorated band, each of which accommodates a carry ring. Brass drag is also brazed to the scabbard body. The scabbard is sturdy but features a crude seam which appears to have been brazed together with brass. Soldered to the scabbard is a Bottony Cross identification pin engraves with flourishes on the trefoil ends, “J.C. Murdoch” across the horizontal bar, “Lt.” at the upper tip of the vertical bar, and “Marines” below that, top to bottom. James Campbell Murdock (or Murdoch), born 1840, was from Baltimore and crossed the Potomac to enlist on June 14, 1861 at Leesburg as a private in a company of fellow Marylanders that became Company M, and then Company K, 1st Virginia Cavalry, commanded by Jeb Stuart and later by Fitzhugh Lee, who had noted service at First Bull Run. About April 15, 1862 Murdock transferred into Pelham’s battery, Stuart Horse Artillery. During his time with the battery, they took part in Stuart’s ride around McClellan, which disclosed McClellan’s open flank, the Seven Days Battles, operations against Federal shipping on the James, the Second Bull Run Campaign, Antietam, after which the command formed 2 batteries, Fredericksburg, the raid on Dumfries and Fairfax station, and Kelly’s Ford. Shortly after Kelly’s Ford in March 1863, where Pelham was killed, Murdock took a commission in the CS Marine Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant on April 8, 1863, serving in the James River Squadron aboard the CSS Richmond, and then transferring on March 7, 1864 to Wilmington, North Carolina. He was captured at Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865 at Battery Buchanan, but was exchanged fairly quickly, on February 25, returning to duty in time to lead a raiding party in the capture of 2 schooners on Chesapeake Bay on March 31. He surrendered and was paroled in South Carolina on May 27 and returned to Baltimore to sign the oath of allegiance and resume civilian life, working with his father as a stock and bill broker, and in the tobacco business. The battle-hardened Marine passed away on September 2, 1889. CONDITION: The blade remains bright with scattered light blemishes, and most importantly, crisp, unmolested decorations. The tip remains sharp. Guard exhibits a pleasing patina with scattered blemishes from age and wear. Grip exhibits handling wear with 1 significant area of loss by the pommel. Wire remains tight. The scabbard body exhibits a chocolate patina with scattered age-related blemishes. Mounts exhibit a pleasing patina which matches the hilt and features a rebel reddish hue. Scattered blemishes and casting flaws on the mounts. Bottony Cross is bright with crisp engraving. There is a faint hue around the cross and its appearance was likely maintained by the officer who proudly wore this sword.