Confederate Imported British Pattern 1853 Enlisted Dragoon Saber / Sold

Confederate Imported British Pattern 1853 Enlisted Dragoon Saber - Inventory Number: SWO 151  / Sold

This is a very nice example of a Confederate Imported British Pattern 1853 Enlisted Dragoon Saber, often referred to by collectors as an Enfield Cavalry Saber.  This pattern of saber was the standard saber used by British Enlisted cavalrymen and Dragoons.  It is believed that approximately 5,000 of these sabers were imported into the Confederacy during the American Civil War.  These numbers are based upon extrapolated numbers from existing blockade-runner manifests.  it is possible that slightly more (or slightly less) were purchased.  Some of the P-1853 Sabers were purchased by the Confederate Government central government, but some were also purchased by individual Confederate States, and others were likely purchased simply on speculation by arms dealers and blockade runners looking to make fast money.  The majority of the Confederate central government purchased S. Isaac & Campbell of London.  The saber is simply stamped "ISSAC & Co" on the spine of the blade.  This mark indicates that the sword was purchased by the Confederacy. 

Inventory Number: SWO 151 / Sold