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Title:	SABER -  U.S. SABER MODEL 1860 CAVALRY
Maker/Manufacturer:	ROBY, C.
Date of Manufacture:	1865
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 6917
Measurements:	OL: 41 BL: 34 1/2" 2.29 lbs.

Object Description:

U.S. SABER MODEL 1860 CAVALRY
Manufactured by C. Roby, W. Chelmsford, Ma. in 1865 - Model 1860 Cavalry saber as made by Roby. Brass hilt with two branches and pommel dome. Leather covered wire-wound grip 13 turns. Blade width: 1 3/32". Blade thickness: 11/32". Equipped with 36 1/2" metal scabbard with 2 rings. - Army #4451.

Markings:
Ricasso: U.S./1865/A.G.M.
Reverse: C. ROBY/W. CHELMSFORD/MASS.
Scabbard: 3.

Army Card #4551, 4552 - "Civil War Relic."

Notes: "The Company - The Christopher Roby Company was a manufacturing concern before the Civil War specializing in agricultural blades. The company manufactured scythes and brush knives as well as hunting knives. When the war began, they were in a great position to take advantage of the need for swords, and by the end of the conflict had made over 48,000 swords under contract to the Ordnance Department. The preponderance of swords made under contract were model 1860 light cavalry sabers with 32,000 having been produced.
The C. Roby Company's first contract for cavalry sabers was July 15, 1863, but his first sale to the Ordnance Department was for 410 sabers in December of 1861. These were most likely the scarce Robey model 1860 'C. Roby & Co.' marked sabers. Because both the early Roby cavalry sabers and the type 1 artillery sabers are enigmas, neither type with the early blade address having been found with a U.S. or an inspector's stamp, it is believed that they were made for state purchase. However, a Robey model 1860 cavalry saber with early features that is lacking the C. Roby & Co. blade address stamp was recently discovered. It has a U.S. stamped and inspected blade that is also dated 1861. Furthermore, this rare saber is stamped 1/Vt./Cav. on the ricasso where the C. Roby & Co. stamp should be and it is believed to be one of the 410 sabers purchased by the Ordnance Department in 1861. This example is described later in this section.
No records of Roby-made model 1840 artillery saber purchases by the Ordnance Department have been found. This is in spite of existing samples of Roby-marked light artillery sabers.... A number of these scarce Roby artillery sabers have been found with nickel-plated scabbards from the 1902 Ordnance Department directive, indicating continued military use into the 20th century.
A review of the records does not show any involvement by Roby with the United States Commission on Ordnance and Ordnance Stores, even though C. Roby & Co. was producing swords in 1862 during the time when the Commission was busy reviewing all of the contracts. It has to be assumed that there was no reason for the Commission to involve itself in Roby's contracts because they were manufacturing and delivering on schedule. Perhaps more importantly, they were manufacturing their own parts as well as assembling them on site.
Roby also produced very fine cavalry officers' sabers for private purchase. The company made some outstanding examples of these sabers, and, as will be seen, varied adornment according to the officer's wishes. As in the case of their enlisted sabers, the officers' sabers are well made for the rigors of field use and they exhibit some unique features found only on Roby company products.
Prior to 1867, Robey enlisted cavalry and artillery sabers would have been marked with one of the following:
Rare one line pre-contract 1859-62 - C. ROBY & CO.
Circle address 1863 only - C.ROBY/W. CHELMSFORD MS.
Arched address 1863/1864/1865 - C. ROBY & CO./W. CHELMSFORD/MASS.
Three line (parallel) address 1863 only - C. ROBY/W.CHELMSFORD/MASS.
After 1867, officers (and enlisted if still made) would have been marked - ROBY MANUFACTURING/COMPANY.
These blade addresses may be seen in the photographs that appear later in this section. While the photographs show the inspection initials and date for the 1863 and 1864 contract sabers, the circle address stamped inspector's 'M' is not a known inspector. The single letter slanted or script M is of the size and type typically seen on pommel cap brims. It is postulated by some that it is the inAnother Roby set of inspector initials 'AGM' found on 1863 through 1865 dated sabers is not a known armory or armory subinspector. Some collectors believe that it actually reads ACM, the initials of Alfred C. Manning, but this is only conjecture. Slightly more common is the 1863 dated saber with he commonly seen arched 'W. Chelmsford,' used from 1863 through 1865. Note that the 1863 dated Roby is, however, seldom found and is usually in fairly heavy-used condition, as it was their first contract. The largest number of Roby sabers are found stamped with the arched address and with 1864 and 1865 dates. The C. Roby & Co. one line address is very rarely seen and sabers with this address are extremely desirable and highly sought after by collectors.
When Roby was bankrupt by 1867 and receivers took over the company, it was renamed the Roby manufacturing company. In the research of this book the author has examined two cavalry officers' sabers with the Roby Manufacturing Co. blade address. They are postwar sabers. No enlisted sabers have been seen marked this way as indeed, the last contract deliveries were in 1865. These Roby Manufacturing Co. officers' sabers are desirable as examples of Roby cavalry sabers but unfortunately they did not see the Elephant." - Thillmann

References:
Crouch, Howard R. HISTORIC AMERICAN SWORDS. SCS Publications. Fairfax, Va. 1999.
Furr, Clegg Donald. AMERICAN SWORDS & MAKERS' MARKS. The Paragon Agency. Orange, Ca. 1999.
Thillmann, John H. CIVIL WAR CAVALRY & ARTILLERY SABERS: A STUDY OF UNITED STATES CAVALRY AND ARTILLERY SABERS, 1833-1865. Andrew Mowbray Publishers. Lincoln, R.I. 2001.

See, Ordnance Manual of 1862.