This is a nice example of a scarce pre-Civil War U.S. regulation sword. Adopted under the 1841 Regulations for the Uniform and Dress of the Navy of the United States, this pattern was regulation for U.S. Navy officers until implementation of the 1852 directives, and this was the first time the sword described in the regulations was actually pictured. It is also one of the most attractive U.S. regulation swords.

The gilt brass pommel is cast and chased in the form of an eagle’s head with slightly open beak, with feathers descending a short distance along the backstrap, which terminates under a banded, gilt brass ferrule at the bottom of the grip. The knuckleguard is P-shaped, flat from the pommel to midpoint and somewhat floral from there to the crossguard, which has raised floral designs and terminates in acorn finials. The grip is white bone, channeled and grooved with diagonal lines with a fan shape at bottom and narrow band with an abstract leafy vine. The floral motifs of the guard are picked up in the raised oak leaves and acorns on a stippled background of the obverse folding counterguard. The reverse, also folding, is plain.

The black leather scabbard has a tight seam, good finish, and is set up with two carrying rings and a frog stud. The brass upper mount picks up the floral motifs on its lower edge and case frog stud, as does the drag, engraved with acorns and oak leaves like the obverse guard. The middle mount is engraved with a fouled anchor in a double-lined frame with foliate corners. The reverse of the mounts is plain.

The blade is the early pipe-backed style and etched on the obverse near the bottom: “N.P. Ames / Cutler / Springfield / Mass,” which dates it to 1847 or earlier. The obverse blade etching includes a flamboyant starburst at bottom, latticework, floral motifs, a stand of arms with a liberty cap on pole at center, and overhead a U.S. eagle with arrows and olive branch, flourishing a “Liberty” ribbon scroll, with an arc of stars overhead with flamboyant glory above, terminating with a knotted ribbon and floral elements. The reverse etching has similar floral elements, eagle, along with an upright fouled anchor and “United States Navy” over an extended leafy branch.

The condition is very good. The hilt has significant amounts of gilt finish remaining, 50-60 percent, and the bone grip is not chipped and has just one vertical hairline that is stable. The scabbard mounts show wear to the finish from handling and the applied Ames maker plaque on the upper mount reverse is missing, but the engraved detailing of the mounts is strong, the frog button and rings are in place. There are no bends or losses to the scabbard body. The blade has a good edge and point. The etching is visible throughout, though the obverse is stronger than the reverse, and both sides show gray spotting and usual shift of the frosting toward gray.

The pre-war U.S. Navy was not large and its officers’ swords are correspondingly scarce, but it played a key role in the nation’s development and entry onto the world stage. This would be a nice addition to pre-war US Navy display.  [sr] [ph:L]

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