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    The Cavalry Saber pictured here is attributed to B. Douglas & Co. of Columbia, South Carolina.  Very little is known about this rare sword or its manufacture.

     At the time William Albaugh researched and wrote two books on Confederate edged weapons, nothing was known about this sword, nor is it pictured in either work.  Howard Crouch's recent, Historic American Swords, does not have an example either.  It does however have the officer's model.  A maker-marked specimen has been documented and several other unmarked specimens noted.

     All that is known of the maker comes from one newspaper ad.  The newspaper, The Southern Guardian, dated September 10, 1862, advertised "Swords, spurs, bits, etc.".  The sword factory was located at the Old Foundry on Washington Street.  This makes it clear that Douglas was not only an outfitter, but a maker as well.  The ad mentions only cavalry accoutrements and was evidently equipping only South Carolina Volunteer Cavalry units.  The few swords made at the Old Foundry are not elegant, but are a very good and serviceable weapon.  Their spurs and bits have not yet been identified.

     This particular example is in fantastic condition.  The basket is tight; the grip is 100% perfect.  The blade is gray/semi bright and without a single nick.  The guard is as tight as the day it was made.  The sword is sheathed in its original brass mounted, iron scabbard.  The scabbard’s only flaws are two small pushes, the iron rings are period replacements and the brass throat has been cleaned.  I say cleaned rather than replaced because  I owned this sword ten years ago and my pictures from that time show the throat with a heavy patina and I described it as original, so even though the patina does not match exactly, I assume it is the same throat.