Antique Confederate Civil War Dog River Sword 1840 Wrist Breaker With Scabbard

Description

An incredibly rare Civil War Confederate Dog River sword, closely patterned after the U.S. 1840 wrist breaker cavalry sabre.  It is entirely original as far as I know and came from my Great Aunt's estate decades ago.
Overall length with the scabbard is 43 1/4" and the sword itself is 41 3/8" long with an approximately 35 5/8" blade which is nearly 7/16" thick at the base.  The blade is exceptionally clean with only light oxidation and no nicks.  There are no makers or inspectors marks on the blade, cap, or scabbard.  The cap and wrist guard are both stamped with the number 7.
This sword has a grey painted scabbard which is from the period and is very old.  Scabbards which were painted red or black exist, but I can't find any mention of any which were painted gray.  Aged light rust is on both sides; but 2 dents
keeps the sword from being fully inserted; and one ring is missing.
Reasons for Dog River provenance are: 1.  The scabbard was painted grey in the period and no Union swords were painted grey.  2.  The guard has several deep casting voids which would have failed inspection if it was a Union sword.  In contrast, Dog River's are well known for casting voids, file marks, etc.  3. The sword is has no maker or inspector marks.  4.  The stopped fuller is found on a number of known Confederate Dog River swords by better Confederate makers.  5.  The grip is characteristic of some Dog River swords attributed to a few Confederate makers using twisted brass wire.  6. The carved wood and leather wrapped grip is distinctly American.  7. Rock Island Auctions has sold several swords in recent years with stopped fullers and many of the attributes found on this sword.
The overall impression of this sword is that it wasn't and could not have been Union made.
If it was captured early in the Civil War from a Union soldier and the scabbard then painted gray by a Southern soldier as some have suggested; it would not explain this swords lack of manufacturer and inspector marks which are found on all U.S. contract swords; or the casting voids.
It has also been suggested that that this sword was possibly made by Schnitzler and Kirschbaum of Solingen, Germany and imported by William Glaze under contract to the Palmetto Armory in Columbia, South Carolina prior to the War. These swords also bear marks though.
2 people have stated the sword is absolutely Confederate and the American pattern numeral "7" stamped into the cap and wrist guard is an assembly mark found on some Southern made swords; and if so; points strongly to one of the better makers very early on during the Civil War as opposed to a German import due to the higher quality which can be seen in the pictures.
All swords with these enigmas are termed Dog River, but there is considerable debate among experts.  Please let me know if you have additional information as I would like to learn as much as possible, and if it can be conclusively associated with a specific Confederate maker
.
If you have any questions email
hobbit7(at)earthlinkDOTnet
or call eight,one,eight,six,three,two,zero,zero,six,two.
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Please see the pics which do not do it justice.