bobinwmass
Sergeant
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2019
- Location
- Western Massachusetts
This arrived in the mail today, another online purchase from a well known internet dealer. For years I've been looking for a decent war time issued Model 1860 Staff Officer Sword ( also called the 1860 Staff and Line Officer Sword, or erroneously the 1860 Staff and Field Sword). They are much harder to find than the Model 1850 officer swords. Made up until 1902, you usually find the later ones being passed off as Civil War era. Later ones typically have a nickel plated scabbard with 2 carrying rings on the top mount, decorations on the scabbard drag and reverse side of the scabbard mounts, and decoration on the folding clamshell guard. This one has all the characteristics of a war time sword, and is an Ames to boot. It has a blued scabbard with a single carrying ring on the top mount and no decorations on the folding counterguard, drag, or obverse side of the scabbard mounts. I paid $1250, which while an awful lot, actually seemed to be a pretty decent price given the scarcity and look of the sword. Problem I discovered when it arrived - the sword and scabbard have apparently been cut down 2 inches. The blade measures 29 inches when they are typically 31 inches long. The work is rather well done and would be rather hard to notice if you weren't aware of the size it should be. In addition, since it was shortened by grinding away from the top and bottom of the blade, but not thinning the blade as you approach the end, the point of the blade is much thicker than the original tip would have been. The sword is in such nice condition that I don't see any obvious signs of damage that would have necessitated this alteration. Do you think it could it have been done at time of use because the owner was rather short? Then again perhaps only the tip of the blade was pitted and some subsequent collector or dealer had the work done to make the sword more presentable. I have a 3 day return privilege, and am currently planning on returning the sword, though a bit unsure as who knows when I'll find another decent war time Ames and at what price then. Hey sword experts out there, what would you guys do?