This is a highly desirable Civil War Horstmann Presentation Grade Cavalry Officer's Saber with inscribed presentation plate on the scabbard. The saber has a Model 1840 pattern, flat-back, 34 1/2-inch, blade with acid-etched panels decorated with stands of flags, military trophies and floral sprays. The obverse ricasso is etched with the dealer's name: "W.H. HORSTMANN/&SONS/PHILADELPHIA" and stamped with a Solingen crowned head manufacturer's mark. The top of the blade is etched "IRON PROOF". The gold-plated brass, three branch guard and counter-guard have Model 1840 regulation officer's pattern cast scroll and acanthus leaf decorations. The non-regulation, flat, pommel is secured by two screws and has cast leaf decorations on the edges. The backstrap has a highly detailed cast Medusa head surrounded by scrollwork. The grip is silver with twisted wire wrap. The nickel-plated scabbard has a gold-plated brass drag, suspension bands and rings and throat. The obverse side of the drag and suspension bands are decorated with simple floral and geometric engraving. A silver plate between the upper suspension band and scabbard throat is engraved with the inscription: "Presented to/MAJOR A. R. MOCK/9th ILL. CAVALRY/-BY THE-/Citizens of Geneseo Ill./March 1865,". The 9th Illinois Cavalry Regiment mustered into service at Camp Douglas in Chicago on November 30, 1861. The regiment served in Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama and mustered out of service on October 31, 1865. The 9th Illinois Cavalry had one officer and 45 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded in action between February 1862 and February 1865. Anthony R. Mock enlisted in Company B, 9th Illinois Cavalry in 1861. During the course of the Civil War, he rose to the rank of Major and mustered out at Lt. Colonel on October 31, 1865. After the war, Mock was an attorney in Cambridge, Illinois. Included with the saber are copies of the 9th Illinois Cavalry Regimental records, a copy of a post-war photograph of Mock and various pieces of material pertaining to the 9th Illinois Cavalry and Henry County, Illinois.

Very fine. This presentation saber shows only light handling wear. The guard retains approximately 40% of the original gold-plated finish and the balance has an attractive age patina. The silver grip has an pleasant patina; the twisted wire wrap is tight and complete. The blade is in excellent condition and the etched panels retain nearly all of the correct frosted background finish. Wear is limited to minor scuff marks along the edge of the blade and some scattered and very minor age discoloration along the fullers and back of the blade. The scabbard is in very fine condition; the brass drag, suspension bands and throat have a mellow, unpolished patina with traces of the gold plating in protected areas. Wear is limited to several shallow dents, some scattered pitting and age discoloration on the drag and traces of flaking on the nickel-plated scabbard body. The engraved inscription on the presentation plate is sharp and clear. This is a very fine example of a inscribed, mid-grade, Horstmann presentation Cavalry Officer's Saber.