if so, I'm at a loss as to how to turn that into a tsuba motif
I suppose I need a clarification.
Do you desire to have a functional replica blade - in which case a modern replica of the British blade with a little cosmetic aftermarket modification will do...
-or-
are you looking for a materially and technically faithful reproduction of the (often brittle) local pieces (of junk, often enough) actually used by the CSN?
if so, I'm at a loss as to how to turn that into a tsuba motif
marine corporals carried cutlasses, rather than swords/sabers. SGTS & serving officers carried seemingly whatever sort of sword or saber they were issued, captured or "could get by other means".
ONE Captain, of the CSMC station at Savannah, wrote a letter to a cousin asking for the loan of $ 10.00 in gold to "buy a suitable used heavy French hussar saber, such that i might not be subject to the disapproval of my senior officers".
he wore that hussar saber throughout the WBTS, as it is mentioned in his records in early 1865.
free dixie,sw