4016 CONFEDERATE THOMAS LEECH, MEMPHIS TENNESSEE

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7,000.00USD
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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2024 Nov 03 @ 10:00 (UTC-4 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 7,000.00 USD
Estimated at 14,000.00 - 16,000.00 USD
"FLOATING CS" STAFF & FIELD OFFICER'S SWORD. 30" stout .35" thick unfullered blade, "CS" cast into decorated branched hilt, classic leech undecorated long sculpted pommel cap. Bill Albaugh in his early iconic texts made no attribution as to maker of this unique pattern. Recent scholarship attributes this sword to Thomas Leech & Co who produced swords in Memphis, Tennessee then later in partnership with Charles Rigdon in Columbus, Mississippi and lastly in Greensboro, Georgia. This sword has characteristics of the earliest Thomas Leech Memphis Novelty Works swords & bowie knives with cord wrapped grips which is not seen on his swords after 1862. Leech made two variants of this sword, with the orientation of the "floating CS" the most discernible difference. This sword is nearly identical to the sword carried by Confederate General "Jo" Shelby, and is shown as Figure 31D in Albaugh's 1963 text "Photographic Supplement of Confederate Swords". CONDITION: very good overall, grip still retains most of its black dyed leather & twisted brass wire wrap, a few high spots of wear exposes the original cord that made the grooves to hold wire. Blade is smooth, gray with staining, point is slightly rounded. The accompanying very good scabbard is brass mounted and fits well. The scabbard is not a product of Leech but is in matching condition and surface, displays beautifully. (02-22914/JS). $14,000-16,000.