Adopted for officers “of the general staff and staff corps” in 1860, this pattern was also used by general officers. Peterson incorrectly designated it a, “staff and field officer’s sword,” a name that has, unfortunately, stuck. It is also frequently confused with the later regulation 1872 “staff and line officer’s sword” that derived from it and is far more common, being used all the way up to 1902 in the regular army, national guard, veteran and fraternal organizations, etc. See Thillmann’s Civil War Army Swords, chapt. 17, pages 425-460 for a full discussion, points on differentiating early and late versions, and period photos of officers carrying this scarce wartime pattern.

This is example is made by Ames and follows the printed regulations, differing only in the use of sharkskin instead of horn for the grip, but (as Thillmann notes,) even the one known ordnance accepted and marked pattern has the sharkskin grip. The brass hilt has very full, vibrant gilt coverage. The pommel cap has a leaf and berry design in the form of a starburst and the coach-lantern shaped pommel has a blank shield-shaped plaque on the reverse and U.S. eagle on the obverse. The knuckleguard is pierced for a knot at top and is cast and chased with foliate scrolls and a central flower motif from which emanate coiled lightning bolts. The knuckleguard splits at bottom, one branch continuing on to form the crossguard and quillon, the other extending to the obverse counterguard, which bears an American eagle with arrows and olive branch superimposed on a panoply of flags, all in high relief. As is also correct for the pattern, the eagle does not have a shield on its chest and the folding reverse counterguard is plain. The grip has good color and surface. The ferrules with floral designs have nice gilt. The gilt wire binding is firmly in place.

The blade is elliptical, which is more common in Ames examples than the diamond shaped blade. The reverse of the blade is etched just above the ricasso, “Ames Mfg. Co. / Chicopee / Mass.” The blade is smooth metal with good edge and point, darkening slightly, which makes the standard Ames etching, though all there and evident, harder to make out.

The scabbard is blued steel with gilt brass throat, upper and middle bands and drag. The gilding is strong and vibrant, matching the hilt. The bands are cast with floral motifs and mount two carrying rings at top and one in the middle. The scabbard and mounts are excellent, with no dings or dents. The blue is oxidizing ever to slightly to plum. The coverage is about 100% with no freckling.

This is a very pretty sword that will nicely fill a usual gap in any collection of regulation Civil War swords.  [sr]

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

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!