Active in Macon, Georgia prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, the firm of William J. McElroy & Company was one of many Southern companies that cast their lot in with the Confederacy to supply war materiel. Originally a producer of items like canteens, the company moved to edged weapons, starting with pikes and bowie knives, refining their skills and equipment before starting on swords; some surviving McElroy officers swords rate among the finest in their class. Like many Confederate arms makers, they entered the martial trade when the CSA asked them to start and left it when the US marched into their home city and asked them to stop. Like many Confederate makers, McElroy's output closely followed antebellum U.S. regulations. Measuring 35 inches overall, with an etched single fuller 29 1/2 inch blade, decorated with vine work on both sides, checkerboard patterns on both sides of the ricasso, the McElroy address on the right side, and "C.S" on the left. The gilt brass hilt has pierced-through floral vines on the guard, laurel wreath designs on the pommel, and a thick brass single strand wire wrap on the leather grip. With a brass and leather scabbard.