Ed: Thanks for the legwork & for the URLs. I guess now I'll ask a more specific question. Which of the swords you mentioned would have been carried, if at all, by a Private of Infantry? Sincerely, Mike Peters npeters102@aol.com

Mike, Most privates only carried their bayonet in the scabbard and/or some type of dagger. The only foot soldiers I've seen who had a sword were carrying a short artillery sword which looks like an old Roman sword. From the description of the sword you gave, it sounds very much like a US Model 1860 design of cavalry sabre with variation in style of three-bar hand guard. If you can find a copy, one book that might be of help to you is "Rebels & Yankees: The Fighting Men of the War" There are many good pictures of uniforms, weapons, etc in this book,and not reproductions...all real. It shows everything from eating utensils, mess kits, personal grooming items, etc. Edward