The M1840 cavalry saber, commonly referred to as “The Old Wristbreaker”, was indeed one of the ‘tried and true’ military edged weapons used by U.S. mounted forces before and during the Mexican-American War and during the Civil War. Produced by the Ames Manufacturing Company of Chicopee, Massachusetts, the Mexican-era saber presented here is one of 2,720 such contract blades delivered in 1847 to the US Ordnance Department.

The steel blade is lightly curved with a flat, wide back and is single-edged with just a slight false edge. This sword, also called a dragoon heavy cavalry saber, measures 36” long with an integral wide fuller 26 ½” long and a narrow fuller some 18 1/8” long. Weighing 4½ lbs., including the steel scabbard, the blade on this Wristbreaker is marked “AMES MFG CO / CHICOPEE / MASS” on the reverse ricasso. Obverse ricasso shows a sharp and clear, three- line “US / J. H. / 1857.” The hefty steel blade exhibits just few areas of very light age discoloration and light rust pitting overall. Blade has acquired a mellow, gray sheen and appears to have been lightly cleaned sometime ago.

The heavy, two-branch brass hilt, still with its original buff leather washer, is strong and tight to the tang. Hilt wears a pleasing bronze patina overall. Grips are excellent and feature a molded, wooden handle covered with black leather wrapped with thin, double twisted brass wire wound around the handle. Leather wrap and the wire all fine and tight. Cavalry saber has a brass pommel cap in the Phrygian design with a pommel brim that exhibits inspector marks of “R. H. K. W.” and “J H”.

The strong, iron scabbard is unadorned and has acquired a dark patina with scattered areas of old salt and pepper rust pitting overall. Both sword mounts are tight and retain the original suspension rings. The upper mount even has traces of the seldom-seen government inspector’s mark “R” on its face, in addition to heavy belt wear at the suspension ring’s fulcrum point. Drag is unmarked but does exhibit heavy edge angle wear consistent with hard use. This handsome, early Ames-marked, M1840 heavy cavalry saber with fine lines, good looks at a great price.

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