After some more research, I purchased the Ames Model 1840 Artillery Saber that I asked about. It is a "Type 1" model.
From Thillmann's book, Civil War Cavalry and Artillery Sabers, "
The model 1840 artillery sabers were used for an extended period of time beginning in 1840 and lasting until the turn of the century." Ames was the principal manufacturer from 1844 through 1865.
According to Thillmann, "
They are among the scarcest of the class of swords that fit the term "sabers" because the mounted artillery was a small branch of service...Ames manufactured the model 1840 in small batches of 500 to 1,000 until the advent of the US Civil War in 1861.
The earliest type was made by Ames under contract from 1844 to 1860...Referred to as the type 1, it has a recess inlayed into the hand guard facing the blade, which accepts the scabbard throat. The scabbard throat...has the raw edge without a mount so that it would slip easily into the guard recess....Any type 1 artillery saber is sought after by sword and Civil War collectors because of their pre- and early-war history."
I had asked earlier in this thread as to whether the saber in question was one of 200 delivered by Ames in 1860. It was rightly supposed that some sabers dated 1860 may have actually been delivered in 1861. It's entirely possible. However, I am thinking that this saber was made earlier than later given some information about the guard found in Thillmann's book (which I understand isn't definitive but it's a wifely accepted key reference book.)
When discussing different models - type 1 and type 2 - Thillmann states that the change to the type 2 model "
occurred some time in 1860, because some model 1840 sabers with this date have the flat guard while others turn up with the recessed type 1 guard." Assuming Thillmann is correct and Ames switched from manufacturing type 1 to type 2 sabers in 1860, this leads me to think that this particular saber was manufactured earlier.
Of course this is just speculation on my part and perhaps wishful speculation at that. Regardless, I'm very happy with this saber and it will join my growing collection of Ames sabers (models 1833, 1840 and 1860 cavalry sabers).
This saber is dated 1860 and has the US acceptance stamp with inspector initials JT on the blade, the scabbard drag, and the pommel (WAT is also stamped on the pommel). It also has the number 75 stamped on the guard which I assume is a rack number or equivalent.
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