McElroy Sword

By John Sexton · Originally published February 2019 · p. 33

The etching pattern, above and below, is not close to original McElroy patterns. There are much better fakes out there that emulate several Confederate makers’ etching styles and have sold for prices as if they were original.

McElroy Sword Dear John: I acquired the following sword from a 77 year old gentleman who said the sword originally belonged to his great, great grandfather who was from Kentucky. He said that he remembers playing with it as a boy and getting “the switch” for getting caught cutting corn stalks with it. He is going to send me his great, great, grandfather’s exact name so I can research his war records which should be interesting. Anyway, I’d like to get your initial evaluation of the sword from the attached photos. Dan Dear Dan: I am sorry to inform you but the only thing that might be real in his story is that he might be 77 years old. I have seen similar scams over the years when usually an older person would run an ad in local newspaper (before the internet) and offer some rare Civil War item, often a sword that they would swear was from ancestor and was the only valuable object they owned. The scammer generally stated they needed money for medicine or funeral expenses for their spouse. Social media makes it easier to reach more people with same scams. This fake sword and style of etching is not that old, so the story is either a lie or maybe someone scammed the seller out of his real family sword and replaced it; I have seen this happen before too. I rarely, if ever, have heard of a refund, so maybe the seller is honest, but he never played with this sword when he was a child as the story relates. Regardless, the sword in the photos here, as far as I know, was first introduced by a Conyers, Ga., import company in the 1980s–1990s, but not with the “McElroy” markings which I have only seen much more recently. An original marked Confederate officer’s sword with etched blade in fine condition starts at $20,000. You can buy this exact same India made reproduction sword with identical markings today discounted from $149 to $89 from Hunterdon Import Company (website shopcivilwar.com, or visit their retail store in New Market, Va.) without the artificial aging or “story.” Caveat Emptor John is an certified appraiser with International Society of Appraisers specializing in Civil War memorabilia. He authenticates and evaluates other rare and valuable historic items as well. His website is www.civilwardealer.com. He is coauthor of the book Confederate Bowie Knives (2012) by Jack Melton, Josh Phillips and John Sexton, that was published by Mowbray Publishing, Inc. Send “Ask The Appraiser” questions and photographs to [email protected].

McElroy of Macon, Ga., made no infantry officer’s swords with “CS” in hilt.

Fantasy Confederate sword pattern similar to several makers, but this one made overseas quite recently and artificially aged.