The whitesmith also has a forge but he depends less upon it than upon his files. Into this fire he thrusts his iron, and, working his bellows, brings it to a white heat, in which state it is so soft that a little hammering will reduce it to any required shape. A large pair of double bellows pours a strong stream of air to the centre of the forge, where he has a fire made of small coals, or coal dust, wetted, to make them give a more intense heat. The blacksmith does little with his iron, till he has softened it in the fire of his forge, which is a kind of hearth, raised to a convenient height from the ground. The whitesmith manufactures articles of neater and more delicate form, as locks, keys, carpenters' tools, &c. ![]() From the hands of the former come large and coarse articles, as horse-shoes, ploughshares, chains, iron doors for safes, &c. The business of the Smith comprises two branches, that of the blacksmith and that of the whitesmith. In 1836 the trade was described by Isaac Taylor: Whitesmithing developed as a speciality of blacksmithing in the 1700s, when extra time was given to filing and polishing certain products. The Iron thus prepared, is used both by the White and Black-Smiths of this County, according as the condition of their wares require it being forged by the former, into Sithes, Reaping-hooks, Axes, Hatchets, Bills, &c…which being ground at the blade-mills to a bright edge they have given this sort of Artisans that make them, the name of White-Smiths. The first known description of Whitesmith is from 1686: The term also refers to a person who works with "white" or light-coloured metals, and is sometimes used as a synonym for tinsmith. The spur measures right at 5 inches long, by about 3 inches across the strap slots.A whitesmith is a metalworker who does finishing work on iron and steel such as filing, lathing, burnishing or polishing. The right strap slot retains a tiny bit of a very dry and cracked spur strap. The left strap slot has been bent out quite a bit, but there are no cracks or breaks. The body of the spur wears a nice old non dug patina, with a few small areas here and there that show the brass to have a reddish tone, that may indicate a high copper content. The rowel is still present on this one and spins freely. I have seen several unmarked versions of the CS26 at Civil War Shows over the years. Here is a Nice Non-Dug Confederate Spur most likely manufactured by Leech & Rigdon, originally in Memphis, Tennessee ! The small strap slots, just barely bigger than the body, the almost flat outside surfaces of the body with a slight bevel on the edges, and even the curve of the rowel neck, are all reminiscent of the CS26 Spur with CS on the heel band and stars near the strap slots, but this one is completely unmarked. Nice Non Dug Confederate Spur Likely a Product of Leech & Rigdon It was recovered at Cold Harbor, Virginia. A Great Looking Civil War Period Civilian Spur, that was more than Likely Worn by a Confederate Trooper. ![]() Though I have seen a few of these non-dug, it is very uncommon to find them intact in dug condition. ![]() It is a good sized spur measuring about 5.25 inches long and 3 inches across the arms. The iron rowel has rusted away as is common with dug examples and part of the rowel neck is broken right out at the point or beak. ![]() This spur shows a wonderful greenish/brown patina over the entire piece and still has some caked dirt in spots. I think all the pieces, parts, and examples I have seen were recovered in Confederate Campsites, and that makes sense as nearly all Union Troopers had Army Issue spurs, usually the M1859. I have dug pieces of these with rectangular strap slots, and also round strap slots like this one. Here is an Excellent Civil War Period Civilian Spur, often recovered in Campsites ! It is a known pattern, with the scalloped arms on each side, and almost a bird’s head form to the end of the rowel.
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