M1840 heavy cavalry officer's saber. Solingen, [Germany]: W. Clauberg, n.d. Stamped with the standing knight mark of Clauberg to the ricasso and with "W. Clauberg / Solingen" to the ricasso reverse. Overall approx. 42 3/4 in., blade 35 1/2 in. long.

The blade is acid etched to each side with panoplies of arms, flags, and foliate motifs, along with a Federal eagle, "E. Pluribus Unum" ribband, and "W. Clauberg / Soliingen" to the obverse, a large "US" to the reverse, and "Iron Proof" along the spine. This example is notably triple-maker marked by Clauberg, stamped to each side as well as etched, which is unusual and very scarce.

Complete in its original scabbard with retention-riveted throat piece. Despite a uniform pale grey tone to the blade, the etchings themselves exhibit very little wear. Evidently it has never been sharpened. The guard is ornately embellished to the quillon and to the knucklebows' interiors and exteriors, and the brass has taken on a pleasing patina. There is some wear to the grip shagreen, revealing the cord-wrapped wood beneath, and significant losses to 2 of the twisted wires composing the triple-strand wire wrap, but the central copper Dragoon wire remains intact. 

Known informally as "Wristbreakers," m1840 cavalry sabers were used during the Mexican-American War and saw continued popularity throughout the Civil War despite the introduction of their replacement, the m1860 light cavalry saber.

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]