This is an excellent example of the classic Civil War Union cavalry saber made by the Ames Manufacturing Company, the weapon’s foremost producer. The sword is untouched and the way many collectors like to find them, showing some age in the patina of the hilt and scabbard, but with an excellent grip, full wire, and bright blade still showing the factory cross-polishing done on the first few inches of the blade above the guard when it is drawn from the scabbard.

The brass hilt has not been polished and shows a mellow patina with some dark age spots. The wire binding is in place and the black leather grip is fully intact, showing just a little wear just under the pommel where one’s little finger would rest against it. The blade pad is in place on the underside of the guard. The blade has a good edge and point. The metal is smooth and generally bright, with just some scattered small gray spots, but a very noticeable section of factory cross-polishing at the base on both sides. The reverse ricasso has the Ames scroll address. The obverse is stamped U.S. / A.D.K. /1865, indicating government inspection and acceptance. The scabbard ring mounts, throat and drag are in place. There are no dents or dings. The surface is a mix of dusty brown over gray, with a few rub marks.

Despite its very good condition, the saber was actually issued. The knucklebow is stamped on the reverse “35” and “2B” near the pommel, indicating issue to trooper number 35 in Company B of the 2^nd Cavalry. There is a very good chance this was the 2^nd U.S. cavalry, the old 2^nd Dragoons, since the 1865 date suggests an issue of new gear to one of the U.S. regular army regiments remaining in service at the war’s end. The 2^nd Cavalry had served in the Army of the Potomac and was then assigned to frontier duty, seeing active service in the Indian Wars. There is also the possibility this was an early 1865 issue to one of the several other Union army cavalry regiments designated the Second in time to see some wartime action. Many of the great cavalry expeditions and campaigns took place in 1865 and Ames delivered 6,000 M1860 sabers in January 1865, another 6,800 in February, and 3,000 in March, all before Lee’s surrender and the end of fighting in other theatres.

This would make a good addition to a cavalry collection, particularly one emphasizing later war weapons and equipment, and the rack numbers are especially interesting.  [sr] [ph:L]

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