My first sword and three Barbers!!Updated with pics of markings. I.D. help?

  Did an old park last weekend with my dad,my uncle and my brother.We did pretty good with a total of six silver dimes,4 V nickles and numerous indian head pennies and one wheat,I think. We went back today,minus my uncle who was sick but we took my brothers friend Dan32981 who is,by the way, now my friend too.Got to the park fairly early and started hunting. Running low discriminate so as not to pass up any gold or other ferrous metal relics,I dug a nail and then a couple bullet shells, then bang a sweet signal came eminating from my trusty little 1225X. Dug a plug and flopped it over,checked the hole,nothing there.Checked the plug,there it is a 1901 Barber dime in sweet shape. Re-checked the plug and hole,all clear. Then I noticed some dirt that had came off the plug as I flopped it out. Ran my coil over it and bang, a 1905 Barber dime! Two silver dimes in the same hole,Gotta love it! In the mean time little bro's diggin' IHP's and V nickles then Bang,he snags a gold ring with initials on it!
   Around 11:00 I got a big overload signal by what appears to be an old cellar hole and almost didn't go for it because it was so close to the foundation but I could feel my coil bouncing up off from something hard under the pine needles and leaves.I reached down, cleared the leave and needles and saw part of something that appeard to be brass.I grabbed it and tried to pull it striaght up but I could feel it was bound by roots over the top of it. So I pulled it it straight back horizontally with the ground and it came out like a sword coming out of a scabbard. Guess what it was a sword!!! My first ever!!! Dan, who was about 50 feet away, saw me pull it out and said he saw my do a little happy dance.I don't recall it but I would say I probably did because I was totally thrilled with this find!!! When I showed it to my dad he recognized the broken end and said I dug this and left it because I only saw the broken blade end and thought it was just junk. Thanks dad!!!
  We went to lunch and came back and I bet I wasn't at it 20 minutes and I got a sweet little signal on the slope going down to the river,dug a plug, flipped it, and out fell a 1912 barber dime in sweet shape,YEE HA what a day!!!
    Thanks for reading and if anyone could help me with an I.D. on the sword it would be much appreciated. Good luck to all,
                                                                                                                                                        Bootstrap
                                                                                                                                                                

very clean coins, great sword

SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Way to dig those signals!!!

wow wow wow!!! congrats on the sword

Looks a lot like this civil war sword.... Very nice find. If it is I'd vote BANNER for sure!!!

WTG  very nice dimes  fantastic sword 

I'll bet you did do a happy dance after pulling that from the ground!  Excellent find!

Grip

Very nice find!!!!!  Technically, its a saber and a superb one

awesome sword find! Nice job on the silver! 

Hey big bro.  Great finds today!  I'll be posting mine soon.  I'm cleaning mine up right now.  That sword is definatley a BANNER!!  Love it!  Great dimes! It sure is a blast !

AWESOME SWORD!!!!!!!!! Congratulations. Hope you can see some makers marks or engraving on it. 

Fantastic  Find   

I  agree  it's  a  saber-  a  cavalry  sword

Outstanding!  do you reckon it was in the scabored did you recheck the hole.
   Great coins also

those dimes look like they were lost the same day they were minted.
wish mine would come out of the ground like that.

 Looks like an Ames 1860 maybe.... Such a cool sword as they incorporated a rapier style guard instead on the sold bell we associate with most Sabres,Am sure some marks are still present could be the one they called the wrist breaked due to the weight on the wrist when used.
 I Fence in Electric olympic style fencing in Sabre. I love your find.Point weapon that could cut as well.
Regards,
TnMountains

More like a happy Ballet? A find like that requires much more than a dance. Way to go and thanks for posting.   My dance would be so happy I would probably hurt myself with the sword though.

HH,

Dave

Wow! Very nice finds. I would have been excited in finding the barber dimes. Way to go,especially on the sword

Would it be worthwhile for Bootstrap to go back there and see if he can find the broken off tip of the sabre?? 

...or maybe thats why the weapon was disgarded to begin with.  Broken somewhere else and disgarded there.  Still worth a look I'd think as it sounds as if he can walk right back to the spot he recovered it from.

Fantastic finds...nice Barbers and great sword...All are in exceptional shape....Yes on the Banner post.

nice coins and very cool sword

Awesome finds! the barbers look great and that sword is just awesome  keep it up. best of luck and HH

All I can say is hunt the heck out of that site.  Man awesome finds my friend.  Awesome. 

Three Barbers.....WOW!  And the sabre, that is a good day for sure!

That is one nice sword!

Congrats!!! 

your great sword find appears to me to be a  **** civil war era US Military model 1860 "light" cavalry sword  (aka the 1859 "new pattern")*** ---and as such is a major find --too bad the tips broke - the earlier  model 1840 "heavy " cavalry was the one known as the "wrist breaker" due to it massive wieght  it was hard to control on a downward slash. thus hard on the wrist. ----google -- us miilitary swords --look under cavalry .

why isn't that sword on the banner yet!

BANNER!

HH
-GC

Nice silver, beautiful detail on those dimes, and the sword is just awesome!!!! Congrats!!!!

                                                                                 HH Joe

Banner for sure!!!!

Awesome finds keep up the good work !

id been happy with the barbers,
but  you had to find an awesome
saber to go along with the silver...
congrats on all of those great finds !!!

great day for sure wow nice, that sword is awesome wtg

Hey bootstrapp i told you it was going to be a Banner find!!! Congrats again!!

-Dan

Three sweet Barbers and an old saber too ... you must be living right ... congratz on the awesome finds and making the banner as well!!!!!

  Did an old park last weekend with my dad,my uncle and my brother.We did pretty good with a total of six silver dimes,4 V nickles and numerous indian head pennies and one wheat,I think. My bro' Fr3nchy27 posted it.We went back today,minus my uncle who was sick but we took my brothers friend Dan32981 who is,by the way, now my friend too.Got to the park fairly early and started hunting. Running low discriminate so as not to pass up any gold or other base metal relics,I dug a nail and then a couple bullet shells, then bang a sweet signal came eminating from my trusty little 1225X. Dug a plug and flopped it over,checked the hole,nothing there.Checked the plug,there it is a 1901 Barber dime in sweet shape. Re-checked the plug and hole,all clear. Then I noticed some dirt that had came off the plug as I flopped it out. Ran my coil over it and bang, a 1905 Barber dime! Two silver dimes in the same hole,Gotta love it! In the mean time little bro's diggin' IHP's and V nickles then Bang,he snags a gold ring with initials on it!
   Around 11:00 I got a big overload signal by what appears to be an old cellar hole and almost didn't go for it because it was so close to the foundation but I could feel my coil bouncing up off from something hard under the pine needles and leaves.I reached down, cleared the leave and needles and saw part of something that appeard to be brass.I grabbed it and tried to pull it striaght up but I could feel it was bound by roots over the top of it. So I pulled it it straight back horizontally with the ground and it came out like a sword coming out of a scabbard. Guess what it was a sword!!! My first ever!!! Dan, who was about 50 feet away, saw me pull it out and said he saw my do a little happy dance.I don't recall it but I would say I probably did because I was totally thrilled with this find!!! When I showed it to my dad he recognized the broken end and said I dug this and left it because I only saw the broken blade end and thought it was just junk. Thanks dad!!!
  We went to lunch and came back and I bet I wasn't at it 20 minutes and I got a sweet little signal on the slope going down to the river,dug a plug, flipped it, and out fell a 1912 barber dime in sweet shape,YEE HA what a day!!!
    Thanks for reading and if anyone could help me with an I.D. on the sword it would be much appreciated. Good luck to all,
                                                                                                                                                        Bootstrap
                                                                                                                                                               

It looks like a civil war cavalry sword. Awesome find!! I am a newbee and had some luck this week end after only ten minutes. I found a british pound, a quarter, and a dime. All of which were of recent years, but it was a start.

Really nice rare find.. To make banner people will have to click the link under bootstraps name for banner an type banner in the box then send...

Sweet looking barbers and nice sword.....Matt

Now after a loooong hard winter and anxiously awaiting the ground to thaw enough to dig, you go out and find an AWESOME sword and some sweet Barbers....Congrats on the find and on teh banner. That is the way to start the season out!!!

Very cool finds.  I wonder how many of us have passed up a relic like a sword or maybe a rifle or handgun because we did not want to take the time to dig it up???
WTG and very nice Barbers.

Awesome sword!! That is one of my objectives before I retire, is to find a war sword.  great deal!!

Once in a lifetime Find...Those Coins are in great shape. Congrats and HH

GREAT DIMES!

Holy smokes Bootstrap!!!    Congrats on a unique banner find. 
Those Barbers aren't too bad either. 
-MM-

Thanks to everyone for the replies and congrats!! Also to our most gracious moderators for the banner nod, it is much appreciated. I'm so stoked right now!! After a long cold winter and waiting for the ground to thaw I've really been chomping at the bit.This was my first post of the season and it made the banner,holy crap I can't believe it!!! I can go right back to the spot but I already hit it good trying to find the tip or any other parts and there were none but thanks for the suggestion.Thanks for the I.D. help Danglangley and everyone else,you guys are all over it!! Any suggestions on cleaning it enough to find the markings without deminishing the value would be appreciated.
   P.s. I'm gonna catch you on the silver
          little bro'                                                                             
                                                                                     Thanks again, Bootstrap

WOW!!!!!!!! Great sword, now that is a piece of history!

Cool sword CW or not!!!!  Very nice barbers!

Nice Finds  WTG

   P.s. I'm gonna catch you on the silver
          little bro'                                                                             
                                                                                     Thanks again, Bootstrap

Let him get ahead of ya a bit on the silver..no biggie...you got that sweet Calif. gold coin and that is gonna be REAL tough to top..... Glad to see ya out now that things are soft enough to dig!!!

very cool lookin finds! congrats,bigrig

Awsome saber, Bootstrap.  Congratulations on accomplishing a banner find!!!

To answer your cleaning question...

If it were me, I'd take a dremel tool with a steel brush attachment (not a brass brush), and carefully remove the rust from the blade--being Super careful not to scratch the brass in any way.  Then once the rust is removed, look for markings, cover with a very thin--Very Thin--layer of crisco and bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 300 degrees or so.


Best Wishes,



Buckles

WOW!! SUPER FANTASTIC FINDS!!
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FINDS AND GETTING BANNER!!
WOW!! INCREDIBLE!
Happy Hunting!!

John

congrats on the banner, sweet dimes and I would still be doing the happy dance if I found a sword, shoot I am doing the happy dance for you right now anyway.

Fantastic finds, Boot!!

I just now saw this post...been too busy reading the detector review forums.  Man, you guys are just killing it out there.  The barbers are fantastic and would make for a great season total for me, but the sword...dang.  What can I say?  You just seem to know that 1225 so well, and almost have a sixth sense about digging those large signals. 

Way to go, my friend.  Posts=1, Banner=1.  1/1=100% Banner.  The pressure is on now...you've got a lot to live up to.  And big competition from your younger brother.

MP

AWESOME

   P.s. I'm gonna catch you on the silver
          little bro'                                                                             
                                                                                     Thanks again, Bootstrap

Let him get ahead of ya a bit on the silver..no biggie...you got that sweet Calif. gold coin and that is gonna be REAL tough to top..... Glad to see ya out now that things are soft enough to dig!!!

I'll get a gold one this year.  Watch out big bro!!  LOL

Heck of a find Bootsrap and congrats on your banner!! now I can't wait till it stops raining to get out. You got my blood boilling. 

This has to be the best find I have ever seen. Beautiful coins and an amazing civil war sword. CONGRATS! I am coming on the next hunt with you.

This has to be the best find I have ever seen. Beautiful coins and an amazing civil war sword. CONGRATS! I am coming on the next hunt with you.

Congrats on the sword...and the silver!  Cool finds!

finds like these is what keeps the hobby going. way to go!

   P.s. I'm gonna catch you on the silver
          little bro'                                                                             
                                                                                     Thanks again, Bootstrap

Let him get ahead of ya a bit on the silver..no biggie...you got that sweet Calif. gold coin and that is gonna be REAL tough to top..... Glad to see ya out now that things are soft enough to dig!!!

I'll get a gold one this year.  Watch out big bro!!  LOL

Hope ya find more than one!!! 

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Thanks guys and gals,worked a double yesterday so I haven't had time to get back to this till now.As always it's good to hear from my fellow Mainers, Maine Digger,a man with a pretty spectacular civil war era banner find himself.I gotta get out to the islands and hunt with ya soon man! Marchas45, thanks and it's good to hear from you.Ever done the old spiritualists camp in Northport? Dan, you were right on about the banner and I'm glad you were there! Fr3nchy, I'm just ribbin' ya on the silver, I'm glad your doing so good and it gives me something to shoot for.Buckleboy,thanks for the tips and being the pro I know you are I value your opinion.Playah,I meant to email ya to let you know but you found it first.This is one of the last things I would expect to find in Maine but like I always say "Ya nevah know what your gonna pull out the ground." HH to all!!!               
                                                                                                                                                              Bootstrap:icon_pirat:

Bootstrap,  Congrats!  I live in PA and have yet to find a ring, I'd be lucky to find a sword in my lifetime.  There was a guy here in Clearfield, PA that found an old sword which made the banner, a few months ago.  The sword point was sticking out of the ground and the handle end was stuck in the tree that was growing around it.  Pretty intriguing, did you see that?  To think that could have been someone's place of death, if the coins and sword were pretty close in general area.  You got a great site to stick with.  Good luck and I'm pretty sure there is more to come from that sweet spot.  ~Michelle

Nice find indeed You don't find one of those everyday. Those barbers are primo too

Great Barber Dimes..Could Almost Pass For "Mint"..

I Can't Believe The Sword!!

I Notified The Antique Weapons Dealer To Have A Look..Maybe He Can Shed Some Light!

Here A Few Finds I Made With My Tesoro Lobo S/T

Mans Wedding Band 14 K W/5 Diamond Chips Jax. Fla Beach

Ladies Wedding Band 14K W/9 Diamond Chips..White & Yellow Gold..Inscribed With My Birthdate!
Talking About Fate!!  Wonder What The Odds Of That Are?? Jax. Fla. Beach

1856 Half-Dime..My 1st In 25 Years Of Hunting..About Worn Out But Details Are Viseable Front
And Back..Smaller Than Reg. Dime & Much Thinner!

To answer your cleaning question...

If it were me, I'd take a dremel tool with a steel brush attachment (not a brass brush), and carefully remove the rust from the blade--being Super careful not to scratch the brass in any way.  Then once the rust is removed, look for markings, cover with a very thin--Very Thin--layer of crisco and bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 300 degrees or so.


Best Wishes,



Buckles

what the heck you doing buckles? seasoning a cast iron fryin pan?..lol just kidding

those are some great finds.

Banner Bump!

 

Great Barber Dimes..Could Almost Pass For "Mint"..

I Can't Believe The Sword!!

I Notified The Antique Weapons Dealer To Have A Look..Maybe He Can Shed Some Light!

Here A Few Finds I Made With My Tesoro Lobo S/T

Mans Wedding Band 14 K W/5 Diamond Chips Jax. Fla Beach

Ladies Wedding Band 14K W/9 Diamond Chips..White & Yellow Gold..Inscribed With My Birthdate!
Talking About Fate!!  Wonder What The Odds Of That Are?? Jax. Fla. Beach

1856 Half-Dime..My 1st In 25 Years Of Hunting..About Worn Out But Details Are Viseable Front
And Back..Smaller Than Reg. Dime & Much Thinner!

Thanks Mac and everyone else, and sorry I haven't replied for awhile.Working six days a week and trying to get an old farmhouse ready to move into hasn't left much time for anything else but the good news is that this is a 19th century farmhouse so theres probably some goodies there when I get the chance to comb it.
  Found some markings on the sabre but don't know what they mean.I'm including some pics and hopefully someone will know. The first one is a big 43 across the knuckle guard. The second is U.S. and the initials appear to be JM.The third is what appears to be a small #15 on one of the brass loops. I haven't been able to get anything off the other side of the top of the blade.It's too pitted and corroded.I haven't cleaned it any more than just the top of the blade and enough light brushing to expose the 43 on it.
   Well thanks again everyone and any help with these markings would be much appreciated. Good luck to all!
                                                                                                                         Bootstrap  

nice barbers. and a super sword. you had a fine hunt. cograts.

Working six days a week and trying to get an old farmhouse ready to move into hasn't left much time for anything else but the good news is that this is a 19th century farmhouse so theres probably some goodies there when I get the chance to comb it.
  
                                                                                                                         Bootstrap 

I could always come up and comb it for ya, after all it would keep ya from having to stop working on the house....
I'm real curious as to what anyone comes up with for the symbols and numbers on that sword...I know nothing about them so can;t help ya there. Don;t burn yourself out working on the house...give yourself at least an hour or so a night to get out and move your coil over some of that real estate around it!!! 

 Congratulations on the sword and the 3 Barbers.

Working six days a week and trying to get an old farmhouse ready to move into hasn't left much time for anything else but the good news is that this is a 19th century farmhouse so theres probably some goodies there when I get the chance to comb it.
  
                                                                                                                         Bootstrap 

I could always come up and comb it for ya, after all it would keep ya from having to stop working on the house....
I'm real curious as to what anyone comes up with for the symbols and numbers on that sword...I know nothing about them so can;t help ya there. Don;t burn yourself out working on the house...give yourself at least an hour or so a night to get out and move your coil over some of that real estate around it!!! 

Thanks Kyle and Roger,I was happy with the two dimes in one hole.I don't think I've ever found a better one than that 1905.Hey Mainedigger, I think I'll have to keep the old farm for myself and it's gonna have to sit on the back burner for awhile till I get more time and feel out the landlord too.We WILL get together on a hunt sometime though.
   So does anyone know what these marks mean?Any military weaponry experts out there?Your help would be greatly appreciated!
                                                                                                                          Bootstrap

 pretty sure this is your sword.

Model 1860 Cavalry Sword - Maker marked & dated, Emerson & Silver Trenton, N.J. & US C.E.W. 1865, 35" blade shows age & use with a couple fine nicks, good leather grip & wire, only showing honest age & use, missing approximate 1 inch wire, hard to notice & appears fixed & tucked in leather grip, leather washer intact. Brass guard with a nice dark patina, pommel is inspected with J.M. Scabbard with small dents & light rust, drag is inspected with J.M. just the same as the pommel cap. -  Item - SW-25-654

you will find it on this page the J.M (inspector marks) on the pommel  and drag  as it would have been on the scabbord. Look at what you have left and see what you think. I am pretty sure though..

http://www.civilwarantiqueshop.com/swords.htm   Item-sw-25-654

 Nice relic from a valiant time.

TnMountains

Thanks for the reply and link TNmountains.I'm really curious as to what the #43 stands for as this does not seem to be a typical marking on these sabers.I'm hoping it can help trace the sword back to a particular soldier or regiment.
                                                                                                  Thanks again, Bootstrap

Vinn...here is a link that may help you with further i.d. and info on the sword...they ahve a contact link on the page as well ...

http://www.mainecav.org/

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on a great relic. BANNER :coffee2:Hardrock

  Awesome hunt!

check the end of the cap of the sword --as well as the other side of the blade for more markings ---- the US --JM -- are civil war era type inspector marks ---(there might be a date on it as well) that would lock it in 100% ---  like I said back in post # 25  --it apperas to me to be  a 1860 model "light" cavalry sword (saber) of the civil war era --- with the markings you've shown its clear it was made by  the outfit of Emerson & Silver  of Trenton NJ -- which made swords for the union during the civil war --the JM inspector markings are of the civil  war time frame ---congrats on a great find -- a union civil war era cavalry sword.

being you found it in maine --I would look towards --cavalry unions from maine during the civil war ( like the 1st maine cavalry) --check their "rosters" ---- and then cross check it with known local folks of the civil war era  who lived on or near where it was found --( use old land deeds / cencus rolls) ---by comparing the rolls of the maine cavalry soilders with that of the locals --a "match" could be made . if your lucky.--- to link the sword with the outfit and soilder who used it would make it "historically complete". as well as adding to its fiscal value.  

Now that is what we are talking about. Banner find for sure.

absolutely unbelievable!! (but i believe it )!  congratulations!  what a find!  once in a lifetime!!

Thanks for the reply and link TNmountains.I'm really curious as to what the #43 stands for as this does not seem to be a typical marking on these sabers.I'm hoping it can help trace the sword back to a particular soldier or regiment.
                                                                                                  Thanks again, Bootstrap

 Well I think identifying the maker mark gave you the manufacture, Emerson & Silver Trenton, N.J. & US C.E.W. Just looking at it tells you it is a Sabre.I researched that 43 on these swords as well. One thing I noticed was is they were a little more expensive then the Ames swords. The "1860" is like a model of sword say like a "Buick Cutlass "and the made that 1860 model for say 5 years so it all falls into the light 1860 category. I think the  answer will be in the length of the blade and that will answer your numbers question. The numbers on that type of sword will run like this with variation..
 Overall: 42-1/2 inches long in the Scabbard (Straight-Line Measurements),  Saber: 41 inches long, with 35 inch Blade .
I would suggest studying the style tips and laying yours down and drawing it out(the tip) then measuring to rule out the #43 for total length.
 I think the #43 was a reference number when assembling the swords and not an owner I.D
Hope I am wrong because it would be neat to know the owner but my guess is that is a very slim chance as  the Swords were common and many survived and unless its on the blade or scabbord like  a presentation sword you may never know the owner. But I guess the History really starts again on the day you dig the  item. Sorry for the long post. Good luck.

TnMountains

 Well I think identifying the maker mark gave you the manufacture, Emerson & Silver Trenton, N.J. & US C.E.W.

Has the maker's mark been found and identified yet?

It sould be on the other side of sword than the  US/JM(?)/Date

Yes from the inspector marks.

Good research. So Maggs worked for Emerson/ Sterling ,Mansfield lamb and Providence tool company. Do you know what the 43 stamp shown above may mean? Be neat to help him identify his find. I had found the JM with emerson sterling not the others.

look at the inspector data -- swr kindly provided --- thank you swr for being very  helpful --

 it seems that john maggs was a inspector from 1861 thru 1863 at the providance (rhode island?) tool  company  which only made a total of 10,434  cavalry sabers  but there was only 2 inspectors ---- during that time --clearly a small firm or not into cavalry sabers much.--so slpiting the amount in two --that 5,217 --possibles

after leaving providance tool company it seems he wemt to Mansfeild & Lamb working for them part of 1864 as one of their 3 inspectors -- during the war  (1861 - 1865) Mansfeild & Lamb who only made cavalry sabers made a total of 37,485 during that 5 year streach --of which Mr Maggs was only there for part of a year 1864 as a "inspector"--using a adverage --thats only 7497 per year production *--or a rate 2499 per year per inspector (he was only with them part of a year-- so its  unlikely that he inspected more than say 1250 possibles  at best and thats if he was there half of 1864  )

it seems Mr Maggs the went to  Emerson & Silver as a "inspector " one of 4 * ---some time in 1864 and worked there in 1865 as well ---- 1864 he used a  "blade mark" (like the one on the sword)--  in 1865 he used a "pommel mark" --accord to the records shown --- worth noting --- in those 2 years  Emerson  & Silver made 27,060 of the model 1860* cavalry swords (sabers) the exact  matching pattern & type of blade which  is noted *  using the numbers provided thats a rate of 3383 swords per year per inspector *and its noted on 1864 that he marked on the "blade" --- during his say 1 1/2 year time Emerson and Silver -- if he pulled his share ---maggs  proofed more  swords production wize-- 6765  in  1 1/2 years -- then he did in his 3 years at providance tool company --- so by the numbers made -with his mark ---best bet % wize  is #1 Emerson & Silver - exact type made matches too--- #2 providance tool company --- #3 mansfeild & lamb  

I mean that in the manner of where he was inspecting at -- of course he as a "inspector" was a us govt employee -- but at what place of sword making was he inspecting at? -- using the time frame he was there and and production numbers of that place can tel you roughly l the amounttof swords that passed thru his hands at each firm more or less on "adverage" . ---thus you can figger out which is the most likely on a % basis --- if say 40% of all the swords he imspected was for company A --and 10 % was for company B --and the other 50% was company C --it twice as likely to be a company A or C sword than company B --- and a bit more likely to be a company C than a company A one.

Bootstrap,
I'm brand new here and I only signed up about your sword and the misguided discussions on Kokoweef Peak.
As far as I can tell, and I spent over an hour searching the net and my memory, the sword you found is most likely made around 1884-85. If I'm not sadly mistaken (and that's fairly rare) it's a cavalry sword for the U.S.
but not necessarily an officers weapon.When you go to clean it up be very careful. The BEST thing to do is let it soak in the bottom of a large flat pan of some sort, you may have to make one, or a large empty fish aquarium that you no longer want. Lay it down flat {it would be best to rest the center and both ends about 4 inches in on 3 small pieces of wood with some sponge on top} and cover it ,make sure it's covered, with Marvel Mystery Oil. It's available at most auto supply stores.Let it soak for at least a week then wipe it off with a cloth. If there is any rust left on it soak it another week, and so on until it is all cleaned up. Be sure you get into all the nooks and cranny's too, this is important. Rust WILL make a comeback if given the opportunity. If you can find any markings on it at all, on the hilt usually where the blade enters it, that'll go a long way in telling you exactly what you have. They were also marked on the blade itself quite often, but that was later.
Congrats and good luck,
Bart :

Bootstrap,
I'm brand new here and I only signed up about your sword and the misguided discussions on Kokoweef Peak.
As far as I can tell, and I spent over an hour searching the net and my memory, the sword you found is most likely made around 1884-85. If I'm not sadly mistaken (and that's fairly rare) it's a cavalry sword for the U.S.
but not necessarily an officers weapon.When you go to clean it up be very careful. The BEST thing to do is let it soak in the bottom of a large flat pan of some sort, you may have to make one, or a large empty fish aquarium that you no longer want. Lay it down flat {it would be best to rest the center and both ends about 4 inches in on 3 small pieces of wood with some sponge on top} and cover it ,make sure it's covered, with Marvel Mystery Oil. It's available at most auto supply stores.Let it soak for at least a week then wipe it off with a cloth. If there is any rust left on it soak it another week, and so on until it is all cleaned up. Be sure you get into all the nooks and cranny's too, this is important. Rust WILL make a comeback if given the opportunity. If you can find any markings on it at all, on the hilt usually where the blade enters it, that'll go a long way in telling you exactly what you have. They were also marked on the blade itself quite often, but that was later.
Congrats and good luck,
Bart :

Waya
 Welcome to T-Net. It was nice to read your informative post. Look forward to seeing more.
TnMountains

Wow Bootstrap,  glad to see yours, could have $2.08 in clad from Indian Caverns hole today, but may be some silver, glad yours turned out with a sword.  Waiting for it

I'm gonna sound really really stupid here, but I just gotta know....
Would electrolysis mess up that lovely saber?

That is so cool that you found a sword
 

WOW, love that sword. That is a great find and don't clean it up!!!

Thanks Obiwan and Spartacus,I haven't cleaned the sabre anymore than a little at the hilt and I did see the letters U.S. and the Initials JM but that was all. I'll probably just leave it as is. Thanks again,
                                                                                          Bootstrap