Comments from a
fellow Civil War Medical sword collector regarding the condition of this
sword on viewing these photos:
"Untouched,
aged, not buffed/polished, etc. The brown on the scabbard is
really aged, oxidized brass. It means it is hundreds of years old and
can't be faked with acid, etc.. That's what really convinced me this is
the real deal, and not an 1880 to 1900 later post-Civil War MS sword.
Originally,
all of the brass was gold/gilted plated. You still have much of the
gilt on the hilt fittings. That's because the metal composition of
these fittings differs from the plate pounded-brass of the scabbard.
These fittings were poured with molten metal into moulds.
I would
recommend light machine oil on the blade every 6 months and don't polish
the brass, if it's really dirty, then simple moist rag with soap and
water and really dry it well. As far as a date, probably in the
original initial 1861 shipment batches, more like 1863, but that's
just my opinion/speculation."
