This is the finest and most sought after of all Confederate cavalry officers' swords: a McElroy cavalry officers' saber with an etched scabbard. It has the finest decorated scabbard of all known examples. The scabbard is the only known example to have a large script "C.S." between the ring mounts. Other examples of this pattern have the floral, military motifs, and flags, but lack the large script C.S. covering the width of the scabbard. The saber and its rare etched scabbard are pictured on page 612 of "American Swords and Sword Makers" by Bezdek and also pictured as item number 6 on page 79 of "Rebels & Yankees: The Commanders of the Civil War" by Davis. It is noted as from the Don Tharpe collection in both publications. It was produced by William J. McElroy & Co. of Macon, Georgia. The business was originally a tin shop but was converted to an armory to supply the Confederacy and expanded. McElroy also had other related businesses. The company manufactured an array of edged weapons, and this sword is one of the most ornate. As mentioned above, both the blade and the scabbard are etched. While etching on the blades is often seen, etching on both sides of the scabbard, let alone running along most of the length on each side, is much rarer. The scabbard etching is mostly floral but also includes "C.S" near the top and some martial themed motifs such as flags and a drum. The curved blade is 34 inches long measures straight from the hilt to the tip and has broad fullers that are stopped at the ricasso, "Wm. J. McElroy & Co./Macon, Ga" among the etching on the right, floral designs on most of the balance, crosshatch patterns near the base of the blade and on the right ricasso, and some martial designs on the left. The brass hilt has a U.S. Model 1840/1860 style hilt with some floral accents and a wire wrapped walnut grip. This sword was in three of the most prestigious Confederate sword collections ever assembled: 1st Don Tharpe of Warrenton, Virginia, then the famous Gary Bisacky collection, and last the collection of Kevin Hoffman of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.