Help with a sword

[Doc J]

Hello, I'm a new member from northern NH. I just got this sword from a friend. It is a Ames officer artillery sword. The hilt is a type 1, makers mark is Ames, no date. I am having a hard time dating this sword, due to the type 1 hilt and Ames co chicoppee mass marking. I have 2 guesses, one is its a 1872 post war sword. The other guess is its a 1859-1860. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[UCVRelics]

Welcome From THE Heart Of Dixie. This is a model 1840 artillery sword which was used for awhile. The Ames marking are post war.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Welcome to the forums.

Nice sword.

 

[lelliott19]

Welcome to CWT. Glad to have you aboard. The sword is lovely!

 

[Legion Para]

Welcome to the forum Doc J.

 

[Private Watkins]

Welcome from Oklahoma and thanks for sharing the sword with us...

 

[Doc J]

Post war sword with a type 1 hilt? Time to invest in some books.

 

[Glen_C]

Yes, post war. Likely post 1872. Listed in the Ames catalog reprint by Mowbray.

Cheers

GC

 

[Richard E. Schenk]

It is hard to give a good opinion based on the limited photos/info provided. It would have helped if a full-length picture of the sword were provided so as to better judge the shape and size of the blade. Based on what I see here, however, my tentative assessment is that this is a composite sword with a M1840 Type I enlisted hilt mounted with an Ames officer's blade of some type and an unknown scabbard. The Ames Officer hilt had cast and chased designs and was gilt like the one shown in the photo below. The grip was normally covered with fish skin vice leather. What type of officer's blade is mounted in the enlisted hilt is hard to say. The maker's mark is quite similar to that on Ames M1850 Foot Officer swords, see photo below. The end of the blade, however seems too curved for a foot officer sword and has a hatchet vice spear point tip. The end of the blade also seems not to be as curved as an artillery saber - seems more like a cavalry curve. The blade seems too wide in the photos to be one of the post-1872 narrow-blade sabers, either artillery or cavalry. It is possible the blade is that narrow and just looks wide due to the angle of the photography. In short, I don't know what type blade this is, but my best guess would be some type cavalry. I also do not recognize the scabbard and doubt it is an Ames. Note the scabbard is definitely NOT a Type I; Type I's did not have a throat but a raw edge which fit into the indentation in the hilt. See photo below. Ames also did not have a front screw to attach the carrying ring band. The scabbard drag looks similar to some post war examples.

 

[Richard E. Schenk]

Yes, post war. Likely post 1872. Listed in the Ames catalog reprint by Mowbray.

Cheers

GC

Relooking the photos, I think you are right, this is a post-1872/pre-1881 narrow blade. Can't tell really whether it is an artillery or cavalry blade, but as I said in my previous note, I suspect it is a cavalry. The hilt is a pre-CW enlisted light artillery hilt.

 

[Doc J]

Couple more pictures.

 

[Doc J]

Full sword

 

[Patrick H]

I am ignorant about swords and sabers, so I can't help you identify your piece, but I think it's beautiful. I think you're lucky to have it from any decade of history. ...and welcome from Missouri.

 

[Doc J]

I agree Richard, I think it is a type 1 (hilt is engraved just hard to see) officers hilt with a 72 light artillery blade. The scabbard is most likely a 72 also. How this sword became mixed is anyone's guess. Would like to think a veteran had his old sword refurbished and used it during GAR encampments and ceremonies. Many thanks for all the info. Craig

 

[Richard E. Schenk]

OK, pretty definitely a post-1872 Ames artillery saber with the narrow blade. Would have to be pre-1881 when Ames merged its sword-making operations with Gaylord under the new name Ames Sword Company. Not sure what to say about the hilt. Possibly Ames was using up old pre-war parts?

 

[Doc J]

I guess it will always be a mystery how the sword got mixed. Still a great sword, I got it for a song and a dance ($100.00) more then fair.