By 1855 the US army was issuing the 1832 pattern short sword strictly to artillerymen. While its value as weapon might be debated, it could certainly come in handy for digging out gun emplacements, clearing brush, and cutting out dead or disabled gun-team horses from their harness in battle. The first contracts were let in 1832. Deliveries started in 1833 and lasted into 1862. This one has crisp “AMES MFG CO / CHICOPEE” markings on one side of the ricasso, along with “US / ADK / 1855” on the other, along with another ADK inspector stamp on the crossguard and that of R.H.K. Whitely, “RHKW” in script.

The blade shows a bright silver with good edge and point, and just a few light gray areas near the ricasso and out toward the tip, with some slight rubbing on the right side of the date near the hilt. The brass hilt has a medium patina. The scabbard is complete. The black leather has good, deep color. There are a few horizontal cracks to the finish on obverse, but no finish loss. The reverse has a couple of hairlines, but again no loss of finish. Both mounts show a mellow, age patina.

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