CIVIL WAR CIVILIAN PRESENTATION SWORD

Bronze hilt with Civil War presentation inscription Presented to Mr. Samuel A. Oates / By his friends of the City of Norfolk / Dec. 26 1863. 32 1/4” straight medially ridged blade, plated. Flamboyant form bronze hilt with good patina. The inscription crisp in elegant hand. Plating worn/flaked at the point. Doubly interesting as it puts a date, earlier than generally thought, to this type which is occasionally encountered. The presentation worthy of research.