This original Model 1850 Staff and Field Officer’s sword, complete with original metal scabbard, is a handsome blade specimen by the Boston firm of H. Ruddick.

Drawn from its scabbard this high quality steel edged weapon measures a total length of almost 36 ½“ from point to pommel. The fine looking steel blade is 31” long and carries a 21” stopped wide fuller. Blade is profusely embellished via the acid etching process on both sides and features both ornate military motifs and floral designs. Obverse ricasso exhibits “H. RUDDICK/BOSTON, MASS.” while the reverse ricasso is blank.

Blade is near flawless with etching that is strong and sharp. Obverse flat of blade is profuse with foliate, geometric designs and a very large “US.” Reverse flat starts with “CAPTN. JOSEPH STEDMAN/42^ND REGT. M.V.M.” followed by a larger than normal spread winged eagle with an “E PLURIBUS UNUM” riband in its beak. Blade wears a pleasing satin-like sheen overall. No edge nicks are visible. Base of ricasso is missing the leather washer.

This sword has a highly detailed, two-band cutout brass hilt with the guard and knucklebow cast in one piece. Upper band of brass hilt features prominent cutout letters “US” surrounded by finely detailed, cutout foliate. Lower band has an intricate, foliate cutout design. Covering the center-swelled wood handle is a grip of gray sharkskin, possibly rayskin, in excellent tight condition with just normal slight scuffing in spots. Double twisted brass / copper wire is wrapped tightly about the grooves in the handle and flanked with single strands of brass wire throughout. Brass ‘Phrygian-style’ pommel cap is border-engraved in a floral pattern and exhibits a tiered cap. Grips are tight to the blade tang. Knucklebow is tight. Ornate quillon, never bent.

The smooth, light gray uncolored, undented steel scabbard is in very fine original condition. Has two brass ring mounts, brass bands and brass drag. All are heavily adorned with edged decorative tooling and scroll work decoration on both sides. Brass throat collar, tight to the scabbard, is also decorated. Brass sword rings solidly attached. Sword bands and the drag all have their small, brass setscrew. Drag exhibits a complement of tiny dings and dents but is heavily decorated on both sides like the mounts. Drag slipper shows light edge wear.

Top mount is finely engraved “CAPT. JOSEPH STEDMAN PRESENTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE ADAMS GUARD SEPT. 20, 1862.”

Attached to the knucklebow is an early 20^th Century sword knot.

Joseph Stedman was born in Medfield, Massachusetts on October 13, 1835. He first enlisted in the 6^th Massachusetts as a Private in Company B on April 15, 1861. Fortunately for Stedman his Company was not one of those attacked by a Baltimore mob on April 19, 1861. Stedman was promoted to Sergeant on May 2, 1861 and was mustered out at Boston on August 2, 1861.

Stedman was next commissioned a Captain in Company B (known as the Adams Guard) of the 42^nd Massachusetts to serve nine months. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on November 6, 1862 and served with his regiment in Louisiana in the New Orleans area. He was mustered out at Readville, Massachusetts on August 20, 1863.

Stedman entered the field a third time, again as Lieutenant Colonel of the 42^nd Massachusetts this time for 100 days. The regiment did guard duty in Alexandria and the Shenandoah valley from July of 1864 to November 1864.

After the war Stedman worked as a Civil Engineer and then as a doctor in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. He died on May 16, 1898 and is buried in Forest Hills Cemetery and Crematory there.

Some internet research and records come with item.   [AD]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!