REGULATION M1850 U.S. FOOT OFFICER’S SWORD BY AMES IN VERY GOOD CONDITION

REGULATION M1850 U.S. FOOT OFFICER’S SWORD BY AMES IN VERY GOOD CONDITION

Hover to zoom

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5 Image 6 Image 7 Image 8 Image 9 Image 10 Image 11 Image 12 Image 13 Image 14 Image 15 Image 16 Image 17

$2,950.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1311-15

Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer

To Order:
Call 717-334-0347,
Fax 717-334-5016, or E-mail

This is a very good example of the Civil War regulation sword for line officers serving on foot, that is: Captains and Lieutenants of infantry, etc. This pattern was made regulation in 1850, is the classic Civil War U.S. sword for those officers, is in very good condition, complete with scabbard, and was made and marked by Ames, the best-known American maker of edge weapons in that era.

The brass hilt and scabbard mounts match, showing a warm, mellow gold tone. The hilt is the standard configuration with cast and chased floral motifs – the pommel with oval top and concentric, rounded steps features on its “fishtail” lower portion a rosette with leafy branch on either side in a sunken band around the pommel’s lower edge, and the knucklebow has scrolling, feathery leaves at its upper end, where it joins the pommel, looking almost like an eaglehead, with the knucklebow transitioning lower down into a counterguard with cast and chased branches with flower-and-vine openwork between and the quillon with cast and chased foliate designs along its back and its disk finial incised to form a scroll. The gray rayskin grip wrap (alternately called sharkskin and rayskin by collectors) is excellent, with deep gray color and showing no wear to the tiny, raised nodules of the surface. The twisted brass wire binding is complete and in place. The thin leather washer used to seal the scabbard when the sword is sheathed is still in place.

The scabbard is complete, with all brass mounts complete and in place, and matching the hilt in color and tone, the upper mount nicely stamped on the reverse, “AMES MFG CO / CHICOPEE / MASS” in three vertical lines. The black leather scabbard body has no breaks, bends, or scrapes, and a glossy, deep black finish showing two impressed border lines along the obverse with the reverse showing the typical Ames neatly glued seam that avoided ugly stitching.

The blade is full length, with good edge and point, preserving its etched motifs, slightly light, but fully visible, on a slightly muted frosted ground. The Ames address, “Ames Mfg Co / Chicopee / Mass,” is etched in script on the obverse, just above the ricasso. Over this a panel of foliate scrolls leads upward toward a leafy-vine-entwined trophy of arms featuring a cannon barrel, pikes, quiver, and US shield. Above this is an American eagle with upraised wings over which floats a foliate ribbon scroll dry-point inscribed E Pluribus Unum in script, with a long, flowing, leafy branch then finishing off the panel. The reverse shows a long series of leafy scrolls extending above some bands etched just over the ricasso. These lead to the central motif of a script “US,” with another tall, vine entwined trophy of arms showing pikes with banners, round shield superimposed over a cannon barrel, long trumpets, etc., in a panel over that, with a long, sinuous vine with long, thin leaves finishing off the etched panel that ends, as on the obverse, just shy of the end of the fuller.

This is a very good example of the Civil War U.S. 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. Please see our photos.  [sr] [ph:L]

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

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!

Inquire »

Inquire About REGULATION M1850 U.S. FOOT OFFICER’S SWORD BY AMES IN VERY GOOD CONDITION

should be empty