Being a custom-made German variant of the Army's regulation Model 1850 Field & Staff Officer's sword. The 32 in. blade is marked W. CLAUBERG / SOLINGEN on the ricasso and is embellished for much of its length with patriotic motifs amid scrolled foliage. The blade's right side carries the slogan "Always Ready," while the left side is etched with a bold "U.S." The gilt brass hilt has a pierced basket composed of entwined oak leaves incorporating a "U.S." and terminating in an eagle-head quillon, the grip is of wire-bound cast brass, and the whole is surmounted by a helmet-shaped pommel set with small red glass cabochons and faced with an eagle-with-shield device. The steel scabbard has fancy acanthus leaf brass mounts, its throat being engraved: "Presented / to / Col. Wm. F. Wood / by / Officers of his Command/ engaged in the cause of / FREEDOM." William F. Wood of Rockport, Indiana began his war as Chaplain for the 1st Indiana Cavalry and was rapidly promoted to regimental Lt. Colonel. When, in 1863, the opportunity arose to command a newly formed regiment of ex-slaves, Wood left Indiana cavalry to become Colonel of the "1st Arkansas Volunteers of African Descent." This regiment primarily saw service along the Mississippi River, including duty at Vicksburg. On August 11, 1864 the 1st Arkansas entered federal service as the 46th United States Colored Troops. Wood's first commission as colonel expired on August 8th, however he remained with the regiment until it was mustered out of service in January 1866. Wood returned to his religious calling after the war, serving as a Baptist missionary to Cubans in Key West and Havana during the 1880s. He died in 1890 and is buried in Florida.

LOA 40 in. with scabbard

Unique unto itself and exceedingly rare as a type, this important historic artifact is quite possibly the only U.S.C.T. colonel's presentation sword to have ever reached the market.

This sword is offered in strictly untouched attic condition with no blemish glossed over. The blade has light rusting on the tip that does not effect the etching in the least; about 25% of the gilt remains, mostly in the recesses; the pommel is somewhat loose, lacking three of its cabochons, and the cap; the grip's wire is present, but loose; the scabbard has uniform moderate oxidation with only trace remnants of gilt on its brass elements, which are now deeply toned; one suspension ring is missing and the drag is dented, overall this sword is ready to be displayed, stabilized or restored as desired.

$2,000 - 4,000