This was my first real sword. My grandfather bought it for me at a flea market when I was 10 or 12 for $10 or less. He loved that I had an interest in history like him. My mother did not appreciate it and it had to live in the basement
It has lived in the upstairs of my Dad's house with his books for the last 30 years. I forgot to measure it when I visited and took the pictures. My guess is around 28". Sorry. I should move it to my small collection someday but that will be kinda sad.
It is very beat up. It looks like a couple of kids banged two edges together for many hours. Or possibly a prop sword for a theater company. So. 1) do we think it is a 1860 union sword? It has a pommel identical to the Model 1860s on page 138 of Bezdek's
Swords of the American Civil War. It is an amalgamation of the features of several of the examples. There is no makers mark to be seen, though it could easily be hidden behind the shell guard. 2) The guard says
AOH. Do you think these were the owner's initials or a unit? In my early 20s I got the notion in my head that ii stood for the
Ancient Order of Hibernia.
Any feedback or ideas are welcome!