Sons of Prussia, Louis and Elias Haiman set down roots in Georgia in the early 1800s, establishing themselves as tinsmiths. Loyal to the cause of the state, the brothers retooled their business into an armory, producing a variety of military goods, participating in the Trans-Atlantic clandestine arms trade, and establishing manufacturing facilities for firearms, ammunition and swords. Active virtually from the beginning of the rebellion, the company was put out of the weapons trade in 1865, when the Union seized Columbus and incinerated the factory when the brothers refused to swear a loyalty oath; returning to the manufacture of civilian goods, Haiman (later Blout & Haiman) was active in Columbus up to 1876. During its weapons production run, the firm was noted for producing both a large quantity of swords (though few surviving to the modern day) as well as several very elaborate and famous swords now residing in museum collections; one in particular, pictured on page 61 of William Albaugh III's "Confederate Edged Weapons" and very similar to the sword in this lot, was worn in combat by Captain E.V. White of the Confederate States Navy, who was an engineer on the C.S.S. Virginia (alias U.S.S. Merrimac), the famous Confederate ironclad, during the legendary ironclad duel with the U.S.S. Monitor near Hampton Roads. This example measures 36 inches overall with a 30 1/2 inch etched single fuller blade, decorated with scroll and martial panels running clear out to the tip and bearing the slogan "DEO/VINDICE" (Latin, "Under God, Our Vindicator", official motto on the Seal of the Confederate States) in a laurel on the left side. The hilt is of brass construction, with raised and pierced scroll designs on the guard around a raised "CS", a fluted knuckle guard, wire wrapped leather grip and a wreath-accented helmet pommel. Number "23" is stamped on the face of the guard, above the spine of the blade. No scabbard is included.

Very good. The blade shows light overall pitting, some rounding of the tip and some light grain cracking. The hilt is good with some play in the fittings, a deep aged patina on the brass, mild dents and some wear on the leather.