Help ID this sword

[gxray]

I was relic hunting around this guy's house today, finding 3 ringers , eagle buttons and carbine bullets. The guy mentioned that he had a sword in the house that was found by his father in the trunk of a car in the 1950's . The car was a trade in on another vehicle. Anyways, he and his brother told me that they had sharpened the blade and wrapped the handle with leather or rawhide. I asked if i could see the sword and take some pics of it. They brought it out and showed me. The handle was mounted upside down and the missing finial had been replaced with a lamp shade finial. I asked if i could take it apart and turn the handle around. They said sure. While I had it apart i saw the letters D.P. stamped in the handle part of the blade. This is the only lettering on the sword. The sword is 40 inches long overall, and the blade is 34 inches long. I recommended to these guys not to sharpen, polish , clean or do anything to it as it may reduce it's value. The guy that traded in the car was from the Bentonville area of NC. Is this sword Union or Confederate...Cavalry or ?? ...Any help identifying would be greatly appreciated...What would a sword in this condition be worth?...what would be a fair offer if i was to try to buy it?

 

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[ivan salis]

wristbreaker type calvary saber 1840 -1850 (most likely used in the war )

 

[pcolaboy]

Sweet find! Probably worth more than the car it was found in!

Pcola

 

[Ramitt]

If it saw action in the war can't really say if it was Federal or Confederate, both sides used it.

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http://www.midtenrelics.com/blades/wbreakerout.JPG