W. G McElroy and the Nashville Plow Works Swords

Right now we have several Civil War swords in the shoppe. I thought you all might be interested, especially in the rare ones. I know there are museums that wish they had a collection like this. Enjoy.

This is an outstanding example of one of the best-made of Confederate swords in excellent condition. This is an excetionally rare specimen of a cavalry officer's saber made by W.J. McElroy of Macon, Georgia. This sword has a 33.5" long blade (39" long overall) with stopped fullers. Only a very few Confederate sword manufactures, (William J.) McElroy being one, could or would make a sword with stopped fullers. The blade is deeply engraved with a crossed stand of the first Confederate flag, crossed cannons, floral motifs and "C.S." in Old English script. Engraved in relief on the blade near the hilt is "W.J. McElroy Macon, GA." The brass three-bar guard has ornate cast floral decoration. The leather-covered grip is wrapped in simple copper wire. The steel scabbard is 35" long and one side of it is deeply engraved with crossed flags as well as stylized drapes. The scabbard has a brass drag, carrying rings/bands and throat. As is typical of Confederate swords the seam on the scabbard has been rather crudely soldered with brass.

The sword is in extremely fine condition with a high degree of luster on the blade and guard and only a few, small spots of rust on the blade and scabbard. The sword retains its leather wrist strap.

The second sword we have to share today is one produced by the Nashville Plow Works concern.

Here is a fantastic example of one of the rarest and most desireable of Civil War edged weapons: a Nashville Plow Works Confederate Officer's Cavalry saber. As its name suggests, the Nashville Plow Works produced agricultural equipment prior to the Civil War, but early in the conflict the concern's operators, Sharp and Hamilton, reveresed the Biblical addage to "beat your plowshares into swords" and began producing edged weapons. It is not known how many swords the Nashville Plow Works produced, but manufacturing was terminated when Union forces occupied Nashville on April 1st of 1862.
This is an exceptionally fine example of a Sharp and Hamilton/Nashville Plow Works sword and presents all the looked-for characteristics. It features a 36" long blade (sword is 41" overall) with its orignal scabbard measuring 36.5" in length. The crudely-forged blade features the unstopped fullers typical of Southern manufacture. The guard is of cast brass (appears to have a very high copper content) with a three-bar knuckle-bow and an acorn-shaped opening in the center. On the guard the name "Nashville Plow Works" and letters "CSA" are cast in relief against a stippled background. The underside of the guard is also stippled. The wooden grip is wrapped in leather with an iron band nearest the guard and brass wire wrapping and a brass backstrap leading to a bird's head pommel. There are very faint traces of an engraved name and/or unit designation on the backstrap. The iron scabbard is 36.5" long and has a brass drag and carrying rings/bands and a simple hammered throat. The scabbard's front seam is soldered with brass as is typical of Confederate manufacture.
The sword and scabbard a entirely intact. The blade exhibits a pleasant plum-colored patina over most of the blade with areas of luster remaining and minor to moderate pitting. The grip has wear consonant with age and use. The scabbard has moderate pitting but no dents or bends.

For more information of more pictures of thses wonderful items please visit http://www.oldtruckantiques.com/catalog/militaria_weapons.html