Columbus in Muscogee County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Haiman's Sword Factory
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Photographed By David Seibert, November 10, 2016
1. Haiman's Sword Factory Marker
Inscription.
Haiman's Sword Factory. →. Site of Haiman’s Sword Factory, the largest plant of its type in the South during the War Between the States. Louis and Elias Haiman came to Columbus from Prussia in the 1830s and established a tinsmith shop. At the War’s start they established a small sword factory, moving to this site later to manufacture swords and other various army equipment. By 1863 they employed over 400 workers. That year they also began to manufacture the Colt Navy Pistol, selling the machinery to the C.S. Government in 1864. The facilities were burned by Federal forces April 17, 1865.
Site of Haiman’s Sword Factory, the largest plant of its type in the South during the War Between the States. Louis and Elias Haiman came to Columbus from Prussia in the 1830s and established a tinsmith shop. At the War’s start they established a small sword factory, moving to this site later to manufacture swords and other various army equipment. By 1863 they employed over 400 workers. That year they also began to manufacture the Colt Navy Pistol, selling the machinery to the C.S. Government in 1864. The facilities were burned by Federal forces April 17, 1865.
Erected 1994 by Georgia Department of Natural Resources. (Marker Number 106-17.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 17, 1870.
Location. 32° 28.406′ N, 84° 59.494′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Georgia, in Muscogee County. Marker is on 1st Avenue, 0 miles north of 14th Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Columbus GA 31901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. The marker was observed standing in 2006. It was reported and verified missing May 1, 2011. It was verified replaced November 10, 2016. The 1994 marker had replaced an earlier marker with the same title and similar text, erected by the Georgia Historical Commission at this location, which had also disappeared. The text is that of the more recent marker, taken from the web site, "Latitude 34 North, Historic Markers Across Georgia."
Regarding Haiman's Sword Factory. Columbus, Georgia sword makers Louis and Elias Haiman operated the largest sword manufactory within the Southern Confederacy. They rented the top floor of a building at the corner of Thomas and Short streets, right beside the Haiman armory. Here they set up
Photographed By Robert Cole, June 11, 2013
2. Haiman's Sword Factory Marker
the Confederate States Sword Factory. They produced more cavalry swords for the Confederacy than all the other manufactures combined. They also made fine officer’s swords, though in very limited number. The officer’s swords were made not for the Confederacy, but for the retail trade to Confederate officers. They were etched by a local Columbus jeweler by the name of Spear, or a man named Kinsel. The Haiman’s sold their officer’s sword at a street level showroom on Broad Street. These swords were made with an etched panel, which could be personalized at the purchaser’s request. The company advertised “at reasonable prices for officers and sergeants, finished in the best quality for sale at the Confederate states Sword factory of Columbus, GA. We can furnish officers swords with belts for $25 or $22 if four were ordered in one lot. Our swords are tested according the rules laid down by the Manual of War.” The company also produced brass belt plates and cartridge boxes, leather bayonet mountings, camp stove parts, shotgun bayonets, rifle bayonets, wagon covers, revolvers, (they had a contract for 10,000, but very few were produced) mess plates and tin cups. With the exception of their enlisted cavalry sword, Haiman swords are extremely rare and beautiful.
Photographed By David Seibert, November 10, 2016
3. Haiman's Sword Factory Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,342 times since then and 81 times this year. Last updated on November 4, 2013, by Cleo Robertson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Photos:1. submitted on November 19, 2016, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 2. submitted on November 3, 2013, by Cleo Robertson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 3. submitted on November 19, 2016, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
