Rare Inscribed Union Civil War Medical Officer's Sword.

Rare inscribed Union Civil War Medical Staff Sword. This is a Civil War Medical Staff Sword, Variant Form, 1860. The elliptical etched blade is stamped with the German crowned head mark, higher up the blade is an early “W.H. Horstmann & Sons Philadelphia” maker mark. The blade etched decorations are floral, the US coat of arms, eagle, and military trophies. This example does not have the medical staff inscription. The blade etching is in good shape with dark grey patina throughout. The blade above the etching has some light fine pitting and a grey patina. The folding clamshell counterguard is period inscribed in script I. L. Lefever. The counter guard does not stay open as the locking devise is frozen closed. The fixed counter guard has an eagle and panoply of arms decoration. The grip is molded horn in a spiral pattern with twisted brass wire. The horn and wire are original and in nice condition. The knuckle-bow is decorated with floral scrolls and thunderbolts. The blade measures 3/4" at the hilt, 30 1/4” in length, and 35 3/4” overall. There was only one Lefever who was a medical officer in the Union Army during the Civil War. Issac Lefever enlisted on 10/17/1864 as a Asst Surgeon and he was then commissioned into the Field & Staff of the PA 76th Infantry. He was Mustered Out on 7/18/1865 at Raleigh, NC. I have no explanation for why the inscribed date is 1862 and not 1864. Perhaps research will shed light on this. $1395