This is a very good example of the Civil War regulation sword for line officers by the best-known American maker of edge weapons. Made regulation in 1850 for infantry lieutenants and captains, and other officers serving on foot, this sword features a wire-bound gray sharkskin grip with a gilt brass hilt cast and chased with floral motifs in the guard and on the pommel, and gilt brass mounts on a black leather scabbard.

The hilt shows strong gilt finish remaining and detailed chasing to the floral motifs of the pommel cap. The grip wrap is complete, with no rubbed areas, and nice color. There is the common separation line from age shrinkage that runs lengthwise on the reverse grip. The twisted brass binding wire is complete and in place. The thin blade pad under the guard is missing. The blade itself is very good, with good edge and point, and visible etching throughout with the frosting slightly softened or muted, but not shifted to gray.

The obverse has the Ames manufacturing company address etched just above the ricasso: “Ames Mfg. Co. / Chicopee/ Mass.” Above that scrolling vines and leaves lead up to a trophy of arms consisting of a cannon and arrow quiver superimposed on spear entwined with vines. A spread-winged American eagle with a shield on its chest floats above that with an “E Pluribus Unum” etched ribbon overhead with its own floral extensions and one last floral panel over that with the frosted background tapering out in multiple sunray points. The reverse is etched with a “U.S.” as the central motif, with a vine-entwined trophy of arms above, and scrolling vines at the very bottom and top of the etched panel, also ending in multiple flame-like sun rays. On both sides there are some thin gray spotting at the upper end of the blade and some in the etched panels. The obverse has some small gray spots on the trophy of arms and the eagle; the reverse has one small brown spot near the ricasso, and some gray spots on the trophy of arms as well. The motifs, however, are still plainly visible against the subdued frosting.

The scabbard is very good as well. The black leather body is solid, with no bends, gaps, or breaks, and some scratches and crackling to the finish, but good color and only one or two small spots of finish loss. All three brass scabbard mounts are in place. The upper mounts is stamped with the Ames company address. The drag is missing the fastening screw, but is firmly in place. All have a good medium patina to the brass from handling, but goings well with the hilt, and with a few dings to the drag.

This is a very good example of the regulation sword carried by company officers who served in the line of battle with their men, the lieutenants acting as file closers behind the rear rank and the captains on the right of the company in the very front rank. This would display impressively with an officer’s sash and set of shoulder straps.  [sr] [ph:m]

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

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!