Field & staff officer's sword. Mobile, Alabama: James Conning. Underneath the washer is the stamped number "213." Approx. 36 1/2 in., blade approx. 31 in. 

Complete with leather scabbard. Stamped on the locket and second plate holding the suspension ring is the number "226." Additionally engraved on the locket is "Made by / James Conning / Mobile" on one side and "F.M. Jones" on the other. 

More information regarding Jones is forthcoming. 

Born in New York, Conning relocated to Mobile, Alabama, in the 1840s, where he established himself as a silversmith and merchant dealing in watches, jewelry, silver, and other “fancy goods,” while also offering repair services. With the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, he expanded into the trade in military goods, though it was not until the Civil War that he began producing swords in earnest. During that period, he entered into a brief partnership with the German-born sword maker Jacob Faser. The arrangement proved short-lived, lasting only about a year, from 1861 to 1862, as the two men were said to have quarreled frequently. As a result, swords produced under Conning’s name from this collaboration are today exceptionally rare survivals of Confederate wartime manufacture.

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Swords, Knives, Bowie Knives, Knife, Blades]