BEAUTIFUL INSCRIBED SWORD OF INVENTOR AND GEN. JAMES DURRELL GREENE.

BEAUTIFUL INSCRIBED SWORD OF INVENTOR AND GEN. JAMES DURRELL GREENE. This beautifully etched sword was the property of James Durrell Greene, who invented the first bolt-action breech-loading rifle adopted by the U. S. military. The Greene rifle was produced by the Waters Armory and, though it appears unrifled, it features an ovoid bore to spin the bullet. Greene served as a Colonel with the U. S. 7th Infantry from June of ’61 until Sept. of ’63. This hard-fought unit participated in most of the major battles of the Civil War, including the Wheatfield at the Battle of Gettysburg. In Sept. of ’63, Greene was commissioned into Field & Staff U. S. 6th Infantry and was brevetted to Brigadier General at war’s end. British pattern officer’s saber with 35-1/2” blade and gutta percha grips. The scabbard is iron with plain mount. The sword’s blade is etched on the obverse with an eagle and shields surmounted by a sunburst, surrounded by a vine and foliate design. There is similar foliate and floral etching at the ricasso. The reverse is etched similarly with an elaborate etched and engraved “U. S.” in the place of the eagle and with a ribbon bordered shield at the ricasso bearing the inscription “COL. J. D. GREENE/17th/U. S. INFANTRY”. The etching is of very high quality with a fine, frosted background, and finely, detailed engraving on the raised surfaces. Although the mounts are plain, the blade is spectacular. The hilt is of iron, adorned only with simple, incised outlines, and the pommel is a simple sculpted, tiered design with a button tang. Accompanied by provenance, which includes photocopies of Greene’s military records and some research materials from Internet sources, including a notation that President Lincoln occupied Col. Greene’s private box at the theater on Jan. 2, 1864. CONDITION: Blade is fine, retaining most of its high polish and virtually all of its fine frosting in the etched areas. Grips are fine, showing some wear but no losses. Scabbard is fine with only light corrosion, primarily at the drag, and no dents. 4-51355 SO (7,500-12,500)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2004

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	616A.	$6,325.00	BEAUTIFUL INSCRIBED SWORD OF INVENTOR AND GEN. JAMES DURRELL GREENE. This beautifully etched sword was the property of James Durrell Greene, who invented the first bolt-action breech-loading rifle adopted by the U. S. military. The Greene rifle was produced by the Waters Armory and, though it appears unrifled, it features an ovoid bore to spin the bullet. Greene served as a Colonel with the U. S. 7th Infantry from June of ’61 until Sept. of ’63. This hard-fought unit participated in most of the major battles of the Civil War, including the Wheatfield at the Battle of Gettysburg. In Sept. of ’63, Greene was commissioned into Field & Staff U. S. 6th Infantry and was brevetted to Brigadier General at war’s end. British pattern officer’s saber with 35-1/2” blade and gutta percha grips. The scabbard is iron with plain mount. The sword’s blade is etched on the obverse with an eagle and shields surmounted by a sunburst, surrounded by a vine and foliate design. There is similar foliate and floral etching at the ricasso. The reverse is etched similarly with an elaborate etched and engraved “U. S.” in the place of the eagle and with a ribbon bordered shield at the ricasso bearing the inscription “COL. J. D. GREENE/17th/U. S. INFANTRY”. The etching is of very high quality with a fine, frosted background, and finely, detailed engraving on the raised surfaces. Although the mounts are plain, the blade is spectacular. The hilt is of iron, adorned only with simple, incised outlines, and the pommel is a simple sculpted, tiered design with a button tang. Accompanied by provenance, which includes photocopies of Greene’s military records and some research materials from Internet sources, including a notation that President Lincoln occupied Col. Greene’s private box at the theater on Jan. 2, 1864. CONDITION: Blade is fine, retaining most of its high polish and virtually all of its fine frosting in the etched areas. Grips are fine, showing some wear but no losses. Scabbard is fine with only light corrosion, primarily at the drag, and no dents. 4-51355 SO (7,500-12,500) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2004 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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