This is an incredibly rare and interesting Civil War sword. This exact sword is documented in "American Swords & Sword Makers Volume II" by Bezdek on page 305 where it is listed as "Cavalry officer broadsword presented by Gen. Wade Hampton to his Legion officers. Made by Kraft, Goldschmidt, & Kraft, which used imported blades made by Schimmelbusch & Joest, Solingen, Prussia. (Kevin T. Hoffman collection)" It is also pictured in Hoffman's eBook "Swords of Honor & Regulation." Though it has a straight double edged blade that appears to have been surplus from decades earlier in the Napoleonic era and is more in line with a classic broadsword, these distinctive swords are often referred to as sabers since they were cavalry weapons and have French style heavy cavalry hilts. The blade style and motto is often associated with the Spanish colonial empire. Solingen made blades were considered among the world's best and were used in both Europe and the Americas, and these Napoleonic type Solingen blades would have been the best steel available to the Confederates. Similar swords are shown and discussed on page 117 of "A Photographic of Confederate Swords" and page 75 of "Confederate Edged Weapons" by William Albaugh III who notes that these swords are associated with Confederate Lieutenant General Wade Hampton III who owned and used two of these swords and presented one to General Bradley T. Johnston. Another was presented by his daughters to Brigadier General Matthew C. Butler. The laurel and oak leaf pattern on the pommel is noted as "a peculiarity of Kraft, Goldschmidt, & Kraft." Additional swords are believed to have been used by his troopers, but only a very few are known today. These may be the longest and heaviest Confederate swords and would be fitting for Hampton's hard fighting men. Hampton's Legion was organized and in part financed by Hampton who was a wealthy planter from South Carolina before the war, and they fought through nearly all of the major battles of the Eastern Theater of the Civil War and included infantry, artillery, and cavalry units. George Armstrong Custer captured a sword with a similar motto from a South Carolina cavalryman he killed during the war and then wore and used the sword himself. It is known as his "Toledo sword," and some references state he was still using it when he was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn. That sword is discussed in "Son of the Morning Star" which notes that the sword had a long double edged blade with the a motto that translates the same as this sword. Another of these swords is in the Smithsonian (accession # 91731). This one has a 37 1/2 inch double edged blade with triple fullers in the hind section, a liberty cap on a pole between flags over crossed cannons and the inscription "NO ME SAQUES SIN RAZON/NO ME ENVAYNES SIN HONOR" (Do not draw me without reason. Do not sheath me without honor). Above the right ricasso is a partially unclear maker's mark. The reverse has floral designs, another liberty cap, pole, and flags motif with drums; and "a/Solingen" above the ricasso. The brass hilt has a heavy guard with three branches, the noted laurel and oak leaf motif on the pommel, leather washer at the top of the grip that would have originally included a loop, and a wire and leather wrapped grip. The distinctive browned lacquered iron scabbard has the brass throat, suspension bands, and drag associated with these rare swords.

Fine with dark mottled patina along the blade, some protective lacquer on the blade and hilt, deep aged patina on the brass hilt, moderate wear on the grip including some flakes, and an authentic battle-worn appearance overall. The scabbard is also fine and retains 85% of the dark brown lacquer, has a repaired seem along the lower section, and mild scratches and dings. This is an incredibly rare Confederate edged weapon. Very few of these cavalry saber's remain in private hands, and only a select few survive in museum collections.