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HISTORIC CAVALRY OFFICER SABER WORN BY GENERAL

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD
HISTORIC CAVALRY OFFICER SABER WORN BY GENERAL
CHARLES DODGE DURING CIVIL WAR. General Dodge is shown wearing this exact sword in wartime photography. The lg. inscribed brass commemorative plaque on scabbard reads: “This sword was carried by / Brigadier General Charles C Dodge / during the Civil War 1861-63 / it was obtained by him in England & had been carried / in the charge of the 600”. This sword along w/ the uniform & archive sold in previous lot all originally came from estate sale in upstate New York in 1970s. Dodge w/ his social connections through his parents & family no doubt played a role in his having a sword that was carried in the famous “Charge of the Light Brigade” at Balaclava in 1854. Alfred Tennyson’s poem written same year made this heroic, but failed charge known to everyone: “Half a league, half a league, half a league onward, all in the Valley of death rode the 600….” young Dodge in England just prior to the war no doubt was enamored w/ carrying a sword from the most famous cavalry charge in history to that point, I’m sure he knew Tennyson’s poem by heart as so many schoolchildren would have learned & recited. This sword is 1821 pattern heavy cavalry officer’s saber, there is also a light version which is thought to of been carried by most of the enlisted troops. One of the most reproduced paintings of the charge shows Lord Cardigan leading holding the same pattern a loft. This sword was retailed by & marked “HAWKES & Co / London / Manufacturers / To the QUEEN”. The sword is most likely manufactured by Wilkinson for Hawkes, though it is not serial numbered, the etched panels w/ “VR” royal ciphers & crowns appear to be Wilkinson’s work. This pattern was popular in America, Tiffany in New York copied it for their best custom sabers. English swords were often thought superior to American, & many wealthy prominent Americans carried English swords often purchased directly from Wilkinson or other British makers. CONDITION: very good overall, blade is overall gray w/ staining, pitting near tip, all etched panels easily discerned. Shark skin grip is complete w/ hand worn patina. Tripled twisted silver wire wrap is tight & intact. Hilt, pommel & backstrap have smooth mottled gray iron patina. Scabbard is complete & solid, iron patina, pitting, several dents near drag which shows wear. 5.5" Thick custom brass plaque is attached via hinged & pinned bands that wrap around scabbard body. Engraving is crisp. The original leather protective washer is intact as is the rarely seen chamois guard liner w/ bound edges. (02-14985/JS). $5,000-7,000.