CS "Dog River" type sword R&D by TMDCO

[D F Smith Historic]

HI All,

Tom Craig suggested I re-post this here from the Vendors Announcement page to get some feedback


I have noticed for some time that while there are some excellent de-farbed and authentically made and marked long arms & pistols available. There aren"t many good sources for the more common type CS sabers.

There are available some nice copies of the more rare marked Nashville, and Memphis sabers. But very few good repros of the unknown maker "Dog River" types that are by in large CS copies of the M1840 heavy sabre.

These sabres were used in the eastern and western CS armies in sizeable numbers, as extant originals would suggest. Originals are sometimes encounterd with proveance attesting to being used by Infantry officers and the artillery as well.


I am looking into offering defarbed "Dog River" sabres. The Dog Rivers will include:

Dismounting the hilt to do the follwing

1) Re grinding of the blade to shape it more properly, completing an "Un-stopped Fuller" (aka blood groove) and blade edge

2) Getting rid of the incorrect wrapping and wire & Re wrapping the grip with real painted or oil cloth, and re wireing with copper wire.

3) Re shaping the gaurd bow, fileing to the proper shape by hand as many were done, giving a more square apperance to the edges of the guard.

4) Re shaping the pommel cap , & re mounting the hilt on to the completed blade

5) Re shaping the brass throat of the scabbard, by making it more diminished as per originals

6) Re shaping the brass drag of the scabbard to match originals by cutting off the excess & making it smaller, finshing by hand fileing.

7) Marking the scabbard throat and the side of the guard with matching marks for the sword & scabbard. These marks ar as per originals encounterd by fileing a Roman numeral roughly by fine file.

8) Finally marking the quilion ( the flat of the blade up by the guard ) with "TMD" to mark it as a reproduction , It is coverd by the leather bumper (aka leather washer)


The swords , as per originals of this type will exhibet file marks on some parts of the saber where it was finished. These are not rough marks, and are as per the original, they are not pollished out all the way, as on their US counter parts.

These sabers are a little heavier than their US counterparts & reflect the poorer quality blade as per the originals to their US counterparts


Here are pics of the first test one for feed back, These swords would be for sale at $214

This first one is for sale

I look forward to hearing the responces


All the best

Don S

[BrianHicks]

Re: CS "Dog River" type sword R&D by TMDCO

Don,

When you're ready to take orders, let me know. I'd be pleased to be one of the first to purchase one form you, as I'll be doing CS Officer impressions a few times this year. (Wouldn't happen to have one ready before the Pea Ridge event in March would you?!?!?)

Thanks, and I hope you continue to produce such fine items as you have become known for.

[Andrew German]

Re: CS "Dog River" type sword R&D by TMDCO

Hello Don,

That's great news. I've been looking for a well-done common CS saber, but finding none was thinking I'd have to carry my repro model 1840, which I had redone with a correct grip. Yours would be even better, and would hang beautifully from that exquisite Clarksville Depot belt you made me, for which, along with the other accoutrements, I send belated thanks.

Do add me to your list for a defarbed Dog River.

Many thanks,
Andrew German

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: CS "Dog River" type sword R&D by TMDCO

Don,
Your work looks great and I too would be interested in one. I do have a suggestion for you however. While you have the blade unmounted from the grip etc, had you thought of oil hardening and tempering the steel?

Dave Myrick

[D F Smith Historic]

Re: CS "Dog River" type sword R&D by TMDCO

Hi Dave,

I had tghought of the tempering, but I have decided to keep the cost down by just using the temper as is of the sword as it is the same as some original Dog River swords (CS Dog Rivers are in general indfferent in temper quality).

The way I form th eun stopped fuller is done in such a way as to keep from over heating the blade an losing the factory temper.



All,

Keep an eye on the Vendors announcements as I will be puttingu a couple more of these fairly soon (3 weeks or so) as I do these in my off time from th eother TMD orders and offer these as an "In Stock" only item first come first serve.

All the best

Don S