Fitch started out with Schuyler, Hartley and Graham, but was on his own by September 1862, and in business with Howard Waldo as “Fitch and Waldo” in January 1863, giving this sword a narrow time frame. It follows the regulation pattern of the 1850 foot officer’s sword, but uses gutta percha for the grip, a scarce variation from the regulation sharkskin and occasionally seen leather.

The brass hilt has a medium patina, showing some age toning, but not dark, and matching the scabbard brass mounts. The floral open-work of the guard is not intricate, but is nicely done. The floral motifs inside the guard run up over the top of the quillon, but the quillon itself has rounded sides without ornamentation. The grip, with the gutta percha showing a pattern of nodes similar to sharkskin, but far more regular, is excellent and the wire binding is in place. The blade shows the keystone maker stamp associated with Emerson and Silver of Newark (owners of the “Keystone Works,”) indicating they supplied the blade to Fitch. Thillmann illustrates a Fitch sword with gutta percha grip and a blade made by Collins, indicating Fitch was likely mounting the blades or having yet another party do it.

The blade pad is in place and the blade is a smooth silver gray with some darker gray spots, but good edge and point, and light, but visible etching. The etched motifs are fairly simple, with nested flowers on either side extending from central cartouche with floral scroll ends, containing a U.S. eagle perched on an E Pluribus Unum scroll on the reverse and a “U.S.” on the obverse. The reverse also bears the firm address: “James P. Fitch / New York” etched across the width of the blade just above the ricasso bearing the keystone blade mark.

The scabbard is the regulation black leather with brass upper and middle ring mounts, and drag. The ring mounts are simple, with central raised bands for the carrying ring loops, but with squared ends with simple incised border lines. The drag follows suit. There are one or two very small dings to the drag. The mounts match the hilt in color. The leather scabbard has good color and surface with no bends, breaks, or open seams. The gutta percha has a brown tone that blends nicely with the brass hilt, which has a few darker age spots.

The grip makes this a nice variation of the regulation M1850 sword carried by lieutenants and captains of infantry, and other line officers commanding foot troops. The change of the firm name to Fitch and Waldo in January 1863 also solid point in dating production.  [sr] [ph:m/l]

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