One of these rare swords is shown on pages 42-43 of "A Photographic Supplement of Confederate Swords" by Albaugh. Albaugh notes only five known and of those two with original scabbards, and only around 8-10 examples of these swords are known today with the original metal scabbards. Of those, this sword is definitely one of the finest in existence. They have been attributed to the Confederate States Armory in North Carolina. It was a large private enterprise run by Louis Froelich (1817-1873), a Bavarian immigrant dubbed "The Sword Maker for the Confederacy," in partnership with "Colonel B. Estvan." The later was later found out to be a fraud, removed from the firm, and fled to New York. The company was originally known as the Wilmington Sword Factory and then became the Confederate State Arms Factory. Production was halted due to an outbreak of yellow fever in 1862. The firm moved from Wilmington to Kenansville in 1863 following a fire on February 20 and was renamed the Confederate States Armory. The new factory was largely destroyed by Union raiders on July 4 of the same year. It was again rebuilt, and they produced thousands of edged weapons and accouterments for the Confederacy during the war. After the war, Froelich worked as a fruit farmer. The sword has a 30 3/8 inch lightly curved blade with unstopped single fullers and no markings. The brass hilt is decorated with a "CSA" banner and leaf pattern, has a laurel border on the pommel, and is marked "XXXIX" on the finial. The grip is wrapped with dark leather and a plain copper wire. The metal scabbard is finished with a dark brown lacquer and has brass suspension bands that sit at upward angles and a "IX" marked brass throat piece (matching shortened number).

Fine with mottled gray patina and mild pitting on the blade, deep aged patina and crisp designs on the hilt, fine original wire wrapped leather grip, and mild overall wear. The scabbard retains much of the original finish on the body, has a patch of gilding on the throat, and has aged patina on the balance. The sword and scabbard are both sound, and the blade to hilt fit is firm. A coat of possibly period applied protective varnish is overall.