Emerson and Silver of Trenton, NJ, were prolific sword makers during the war, supplying, among other patterns, 12,009 Model 1840 noncommissioned officer’s swords to the government from 1862 to 1864. They were innovators in using steel scabbards, naturally far more robust than the standard leather, and used the same brass throat and drag, secured by small screws. The blackened steel body made them indistinguishable from leather scabbards at a distance and likely prized when issued, cutting down the chances for having one’s pay docked for replacing a broken one.

The 1840 NCO pattern replaced earlier versions such as the Starr 1818 NCO and the Model 1832 short sword, and although noncommissioned officers (those appointed by warrant from the regimental commander) encompassed corporals, the swords seem to have been generally limited to sergeants of the line and staff. Regulations specified these were to be worn on a shoulder belt fastened with the three-hook version of the 1826 round eagle breast plate, but they are occasionally seen in a simple belt frog, which may have become more common toward the end of the war.

This has a nice, aged patina to the brass mounts with minor age spotting, more medium in tone than dark, and nice black finish to the scabbard body. The drag bears an inspector’s mark that is slightly rubbed but clearly AHK, which would be Albert H. Kirkham, an armory subinspector 1862-63 according to Thillmann, but who is not on Thillmans list of observed inspectors for Emerson and Silver, likely making this fairly scarce. If you have an Emerson and Silver NCO sword without a scabbard this is a rare chance to get one.  [sr] [ph:L]

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