Only 253 swords of this pattern were produced at Springfield, and delivered sporadically from 1868 to 1920. The pattern was officially adopted in 1872, being depicted in a line drawing and described in Ordnance Memoranda No. 22, printed in 1878, but it was developed at Springfield in 1867 and put in production in 1868, giving rise to some difference in terminology by collectors. The swords are marked “U.S. Armory / Springfield” on the long ricasso, as is this one, but scabbards are usually not marked. In this case, however, the drag bears a partial “S.W.P.” inspector’s mark of Samuel Porter, the Master Armorer at Springfield from 1879 to 1894. Combined with the dates of its periodic production at Springfield, this narrows the date of this sword to one of 14 produced in 1880, one of 50 produced in 1882, or one of another 50 produced in 1893. There is a small number “30” near that stamp. If it is a serial number from the production run, the sword must be from 1882 or 1893.

The sword is completely regulation. The hilt is cast brass with a lantern shaped pommel with eagle and arrows, and a sword knot scroll. The grips are made to resemble wire wrapping with floral decorated ferrules and show the regulation nickel plating. The guard has straight quillons with finials showing an eagle head biting a snake that entwines it, a nice symbol of defiance we think, and a quillon block with an oval cartouche surrounded by floral sprays on the obverse containing an “MA” in Old English. The blade is straight, diamond in cross-section, tapering slightly to the point, and as per regulation is not etched. The scabbard is nickel plated steel, again by regulation, with brass throat, upper mount with frog hook, and asymmetrical drag. The blade is excellent, with no sharpening or nicks, light silver in tone and shows just slight gray at the ricasso. The scabbard is bright as well, with some scattered gray spots. The brass hilt and scabbard mounts have a nice, mellow, age patina.

This is a scarce U.S. armory made sword dating to the Indian Wars and limited to cadets at the U.S. Military Academy. The time frame indicates the owner likely went off to a western army post, where there was still trouble going on, and perhaps saw service in the Spanish American War and even World War One. It is a very hard to find regulation U.S. military sword in very good condition.  [sr]

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