The Confederate Soldiers Museum, which was on the grounds of Beauvoir, housed a varied collection of edged weapons and guns. This collection included Confederate and Union swords that were fabricated in the major armories during the Civil War, and swords that were manufactured in Germany, and England. The guns that were recovered include a variety of revolvers, a Spencer Carbine rifle, a Belgium rifle, and several percussion rifles from the Civil War period. The recovered edged weapons from the museum included Jefferson Davis personal sword, as well as the swords of mounted officers, light infantry, and foot soldiers.
The swords that were recovered at Beauvoir were stabilized on site, which contributed greatly to their preservation. A majority of the original grips have survived, however, many of the blades have been bent. The swords have sand and corrosion on their surfaces, which is the result of prolonged exposure to salt water. Currently the swords are being cleaned, which involves removing unstable corrosion products. Once the swords are cleaned they receive a final protective coating of conservation grade wax. The swords are then fit into custom made mounts and housed in acid free boxes, where they will remain in storage.
David Arnold, a conservator of firearms, from Springfield Armory, surveyed the weapons in the collection and was consulted on the conservation of these important objects.
