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Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

This one has an intriguing tale, and as we always say, these weapons usually do if we care to look hard enough.
The Solingen firm FW HOLLER indeed was registered 1866 (Walter, 1973, p.060-063) but is likely part of reconfiguring and reorganizing of firms around these times from the earlier Holler company.
Under these initials the firm apparantly had agents in London, William Meyerstern & Co. operating at Love Lane, Ward St. 1870-1887, but remained listed there until 1895.

On another thread just posted with a Brazilian espada ("Spanish Colonial thread) with the maker Carl Jurmann (1848-1868) Solingen, I noted that this makers blades were exported by Maas & Schoverling to the firm of Herman Boker, a N.Y. hardware and sword dealer in 1861. (Bezdek, p.110).

It is interesting that in a footnote in the well travelled Briggs article we have been using there is a reference to blades imported into the Saharan networks coming from America. He notes he has never substantiated this particular aspect but perhaps this might explain if these German made blades were coming into the U.S. at New York....and as noted into other areas supplying Confederate forces with swords as well.

The British were well established as suppliers to the Confederate forces via routes into the Caribbean and there are patterns of British swords known specific to these orders such as M1853 sabres by Isaac & Co.

These waters of course were part of the 'Spanish Main' including with trade from North Africa and the colonies there. French trade was also included and German trade blades often appear on French swords. While many French military blades typically are found on the Manding sabres, they also occur on Tuareg sabres of takouba form (aljuinar) usually in Mali and Burkina Faso.
This is why these blades are so commonly among these swords as far as I have considered.

I am unclear why a Confederate sword would have an FW HOLLER blade if they did not begin using that initial until 1866, but it does seem there was a Holler supplying sabre blades among earlier blades usually to Union swords though. I have also seen Walscheid and Weyersberg union sabres, in fact I believe the M1840 used by the Union was initially produced in Solingen.

With the interesting scene engraved on the blade, Germany did have a distinct affinity for the American wild west, and quite likely this blade may have been intended perhaps for post Civil War market officers or other fraternal military sword use. Again, somehow it ended up in the trade networks to North Africa.

As always Jim, a comprehensive and informative answer . Yes I too was a bit confused when I was told FW Holler only started up in 1866 , as to why they would have made a Confed sword. Any way I rechecked and it was A.E Holler ... so presumably this now makes sense . Re the supply of swords by Britain to the Confederacy , have you ever seen the rather good little booklet 'Imports from The United Kingdom 1861-1865' ? It details all types of military equipment bought by the Confederacy fron the UK . It was published & sold by the American Civil War Museum in Philadelphia . I visited it many years ago and happily bought a lot of copies of the book , as they have now closed down . I believe the intention is to reopen in 2014 ..
Richmond