Civil War-Era Amputation Saw / SOLD

Civil War-Era Amputation Saw – Marked “E.R. GREEN” and Arnold & Sons, London - Inventory Number: MED 276 / SOLD

This exceptional 19th-century surgical amputation saw is both a finely made instrument and a deeply personal relic. The spine bears the stamp of Arnold & Sons, a respected London surgical instrument maker active during the Civil War era. Most notably, the wooden pistol grip is clearly carved with the name “E.R. GREEN,” likely the original owner.

While the identity of E.R. Green does not appear in known rosters of Civil War medical personnel, he may have served as a hospital steward, civilian contract surgeon, or field medic—roles often under-documented in wartime records. The personalization strongly suggests field use and ownership during the Civil War.

Constructed with a reinforced steel spine, curved handle, and fine-tooth blade, this saw is typical of those used in both military and civilian medical practice. It represents the harrowing reality of battlefield medicine during the Civil War.

Overall length 14”, blade is 10”.

A rare and emotionally resonant piece of Civil War medical history.

Inventory Number: MED 276 / SOLD