Earl
... There may have been a Rotherwood Estate... and the location may have had an Iron works facility at some point in time... The problem is there is no record of any such as a Rotherwood Iron Works business or place existing during the Civil War era... much less producing weapons. None of these so marked items had ever been noted, documented or listed before.... then suddenly surfaced about 10-20 years ago, then poof heres a bunch of them. Different types and models of weapons, but all marked simularly. They are frequently found with various markings in combinations that were not of the usual habits in the 1860's... but are indeed common traits and habits of fakers... Several of these are also marked with the persons rank and initials only... never a traceable full name, nor a related unit ID... Appear conviencing to the novice observer/potential buyer... but ambigious enough that anything related could not be researched or traced....

The items themselves could either be old reenactment reproductions... or in some cases could have actually been original weapons.... the common habit of fakers was to take a generic unmarked foreign made import.... Which as is, usually at the bottom of the value chart and collector market.... add markings that would imply a confederate make or association... in a false attempt to increase its potential market value and sale price.... which actually lessens its value than what it was to started with. On a side note the region of Kingston and Bristol has been a known mecca haven for producing fakes for awhile. Not just swords, but weapons and gear of all sorts, and even flags too... This isnt just a sole personal opinion but something known about with many historians but also museums and collectors.

Frederick