carl spacklers hat said:

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US Calvary sword. I'll give you $250.

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Calvary is where Jesus was crucified. It's probably a Cavalry sword

What you've got there is an OG Groomsman's gift

The shape of the handguard is similar to those between the late 1700's through the M1833, but the style of it isn't anything I've seen - it is very odd to say the least. Also it appears to be iron or steel versus brass, which is somewhat unusual as well.

Tiffany & Co. made some cavalry sabers for the Union army during the WONA that had iron handguards, they are the only ones that come to mind that didn't forge them out of brass. Some older makes or imports likely did but there are thousands of different manufacturers that sent their equipment overseas here, especially in the war for independence through the civil war time periods.

Don't do anything like try to clean it or remove the rust, at least not until you know what it is. There are a couple of military sword forums that you might look at and post it on - those guys know all kinds of stuff about older edged weapons.

CanyonAg77 said:

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Would a steel hand guard imply this was a display piece, not a "working" saber?

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It could. But the Tiffany M1840 and M1860 sabers were used in battle, so there are some examples where they are more than display.

It could also be some type of aftermarket guard, privately commissioned, or, most likely an import, of some kind. Imports from Germany and France were really common up through the civil war, and up until then officers had to buy their swords or were gifted their dress swords versus them being issued.

The blade profile, fuller and handle sans the guard scream M1833 Dragoon or thereabouts.