Made in Kenansville, North Carolina, 1862-1865, its unmarked 29.75 in. blade is married to one of Froelich's singular brass guards that was cast to form a prominent "CSA." The sword's identification number, a Roman numeral "VIII" (or "XIII") is carved into the side of the guard at the proper right rear of the quillon; the wooden grip is sheathed in leather wrapped with iron wire. No scabbard is present.

LOA 35.75 in.

Verbal history claims the sword belonged to Julius Alexander Gray and his wife, Emma Victoria Morehead, daughter of North Carolina Governor John Motley Morehead (1796-1866). After Morehead's death, the Grays lived in the former governor's Greensboro estate, "Blandwood," where this sword was displayed according to the consignor.

The guard is somewhat misshapen and is split below the "S" with old solder residue around the break; the leather on the grip is quite dry and has worn to expose underlying wood at points of wear; the antique blade is not factory original to the grip, yet could very well have been a wartime replacement.

$2,000 - 4,000