Need help with Ames cavalry saber

[bayonet]

The pommel inspector marks were Ames and not government. The blade was gov hence the US above the initials.

So were the government Inspectors at the Factory when they stamped their initials or did they do it upon delivery?

 

[UCVRelics]

So were the government Inspectors at the Factory when they stamped their initials or did they do it upon delivery?

The history of the US IG dept beginning in 1861 is very interesting as the war was ramping up and arms contract as well as everything else the US Army contracted for were massive. The old system of inspecting when they got to the arsenal did not work. Inferior weapons were being shipped and did not pass so the IG dept sent out sub-inspectors to the plants.