Here, in excellent condition, is an Ames-manufactured, Model 1850 Foot Officer’s sword engraved with “PRESENTED  / To Lieut. B. E. Buck / by Co H  25 Reg. C. V. Hartford.  CT. / Oct. 29^th 1862” on the inside face of the guard.  Letter “H” missing the horizontal connector. Benoni Buck was a thirty-year-old sash and blind maker in Hartford, CT when on November 11, 1862, he enlisted as a 2^nd Lieutenant in Company H, 25^th Connecticut Infantry.  Army service must have not fit the military life Lt. Buck had envisioned for he resigned just a month and a half later on Jan 16, 1863 while serving in the Dept of the Gulf at Baton Rouge. His resignation was accepted with the attached note “For the good of the service”.

Lt. Buck's Model 1850 Foot Officer’s sword with its matching leather scabbard is the classic specimen carried by most infantry and artillery officers during that time period.  A finely crafted presentation piece, this sword was made by Ames Manufacturing Co of Chicopee, Mass, and is so etched on the blade and stamped on the scabbard mount.   Sword measures 36½” long and has a 30½” long, single-edged blade. The unsharpened blade has a slight curve and is profusely acid-etched and exhibits a pleasing brightness with original frosting in excellent condition.  Blade has a stopped wide fuller 21” long and a narrow fuller 14½” long. Etched on the obverse ricasso is the maker’s mark, “Ames Mfg. Co / Chicopee / Mass”. Above is foliate that extends to military motif, then a spread winged eagle, and foliates. Reverse etching includes foliate, U.S. in script, shield and arms, and foliate. Blade is excellent overall save for a 4½” area on both sides at the tip that exhibits light pitting.

The handsome brass hilt reflects fine ornate casting and retains almost all of its original gilt finish. Grips, which are in fabulous, strong condition, feature a carved, center swelled wood handle wrapped in a fine-grade, dark gray sharkskin or rayskin. Wire wrap is twisted, double strand brass with three strands just slightly loose. Standard design single band hilt with its highly ornate guard, knucklebow and quillon. The original, buff leather, blade washer or pad is in excellent condition. The Phrygian pommel cap is embellished at the edge with floral leaves and an anthacus flower at the top connecting the branches.  Buck’s Ames-marked scabbard is made of black bridle leather in excellent plus condition and has its original brass mounts, brass bands, rings and drag.  Leather scabbard body is very strong and shows just slight scuffing and crazing to the leather at the drag area, else fine. Upper sword mount bears the maker stamping in small block letters that reads “AMES MFG Co / CHICOPEE / MASS ”. Both upper and lower mounts, which are strong and tight, offer a pleasing, bright gilt scheen, as does the scabbard drag. Drag retains all three retaining set screws.

Sword comes with Buck’s military  records from the National Archives in Washington, DC.  If one seeks a high quality, original presentation Foot Officer’s sword, this M1850 is a super specimen.