The brass hilt on this saber has an untouched, aged patina, and no bends, cracks or breaks. The black leather grip wrap shows just a small spot of wear on the underside near the junction of the knucklebow and pommel, and shows otherwise an excellent surface and black color oxidizing slightly toward brown. The twisted brass wire is complete, tight, and has a patina matching the hilt.

The blade pad is in place on the underside of the guard and is complete. The blade has a good edge with no nicks, a good point, and is untouched, showing smooth metal overall, with areas bright steel mixed with grays and thin browns. The maker’s stamp on the reverse ricasso is a tad rubbed on the edges with the “Made by” and top and bottom of the scroll borders light, but the main three lines clear and legible:  AMES MFg Co / CHICOPEE. / MASS. The inspection stamps on the obverse ricasso are deeper and sharper: U.S. / ADK / 1861, indicating inspection and acceptance by Armory Sub-Inspector Andrew D. King. The scabbard is complete, with throat, drag, ring bands and carrying rings all in place. It has no dents or dings and has a good plum brown surface with some darker gray and brown spots near the drag.

This saber was produced under a US contract signed by Ames on June 11, 1861, for 10,000 sabers. He had completed a previous, 1859, contract for 5,000 with a final delivery of 1,400 on January 11, 1861, so it is just possible, but unlikely any of those bore 1861 dates. His deliveries on the June 1861 contract started on August 19, 1861 with delivery of 1,020 and reached 5,890 by December 31, 1861, which would have carried 1861 dates, as perhaps did some Feb. 5, 1862, delivery of another 2,340 on the contract. Armory Sub-Inspector Andrew D. King had been detailed to Chicopee in mid-August 1861 and was working there until late March 1862, when he was sent to inspect Starr revolvers for a time.

Any 1861 dated Ames is pretty scarce given the relatively low production number and attrition rate of another three and a half years of war. This is a very good, untouched example.  [sr][ph:L]

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