Thanks Alan. Someone had responded on a descussion board and told me about the Mt. Vernon issue. I have no proof or anything. But it indeed interesting that the sabre I mentioned had "H. Boker, Solingen, Germany on the blade. Probably one of thousands of contract arms made over seas. And now that I think of it, who knows, it might not even be his original issue. He might have lost his, and gotten another from a dead or captured yankees or captured stores! Who knows. It is one of the most well balanced and good feeling sabres I have ever held too! Ad I have owned and held several original 1860 Lt Cav sabres and earlier Hvy Cav sabres. I might try writing the Boker company (still in existance as Boker Knives and Cutlery) and see if I can find out anything about the contract/s they filled. I do know they made several thousand sabres for the U.S. market. Whether any were sold to the Confederacy I have no idea!
Later,
Dave