Fall 2023 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
November 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th, 2023
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
IMPORTANT CONFEDERATE PRESENTATION DUFILHO STAFF OFFICER SWORD
02-19445
Unique high grade Confederate staff officer sword with raised relief “CS” add Louisiana State seal on fine stippled background with etched blade presentation: “by Jefferson Fire Guard to Capt. G. GEYER of the CONFEDERATE STATES of AMERICA March 24, 1862”. The blade is signed by the etcher “ZIMMERMANN” and only known signed example. Sword retains its complete original Dufilho brass mounted leather scabbard, through the blade is broken and missing its last 8″ at tip, remaining blade measures 24″. There are several swords with this motif by this well known New Orleans manufacturer, this is the more elaborate variant with slightly larger hilt, and most importantly more finely detailed Pelican and wreath and higher relief “CS”. This is a beautiful sword presented just weeks before the fall of New Orleans April 25th 1862 and one of very few etched “CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA”.
George Geyer [Geier] was chief engineer in the Carrollton Volunteer Fire Company. He is found in numerous New Orleans newspaper accounts starting in mid-1850s with Fire Company. He is listed as captain of Co. C, Jefferson Fire Guards in 1861-1862 newspaper and archive records. The Jefferson Fire Guards were a Confederate home protection militia that disbanded after Union occupation in April 1862. Carrollton Louisiana was mostly German immigrant neighborhood of New Orleans that was annexed by New Orleans in 1874.
Charles H. Zimmermann, possibly the etcher was part of Hansa Militia listed as lieutenant. He is also listed in New Orleans city directories as jeweler.
UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Large file of provenance in binder with several original letters from the 1970s concerning history, including May 31, 1974 letter from pioneer Confederate collector Fred Slaton selling the sword to Dan Hartzler. The sword is featured in two books, and pages are copied in file. National Archive records of George Geyer [Geier] listing in Jefferson Fire Guards and Charles Zimmermann records in Hansa Louisiana Militia of European descent.
