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Scarce Model 1834 Officer's Sword & Scabbard, Beautiful Blade
Guns International #: 102227150 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Collectibles - Civil War - Edged Weapons Pre 1900
Seller's Information
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Seller: Bobinwmass
Member Since: 2/19/23
State: Massachusetts
Country: United States
Number of Active Listings: 22
Total Number of Listings: 57
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Shipping to the lower 48 contiguous states. Shipping price for specific item included in item description. Three day inspection and return policy on all items.
Payment Types Accepted: Check or Money Order, Paypal (plus 3% fee) for non-firearm related items, layaways considered..
About Us: Recently retired, starting to sell off my militaria collection of 30 years. New to this site, but have sold on other sites for years with 100% positive feedback under same user ID.
Description:
In 1833 Ames and the Ordnance Department entered into an agreement for Ames to manufacture this new pattern officer's sword, which was to be inspected by and then shipped to the Ordnance Department, who would then supply the swords to individual officers at cost by having deductions taken from their pay until the sword was paid off. What class of officer the sword was to be used by could be determined by the scabbard. General Officer's swords had engraved brass or steel scabbards. General Staff Officer swords would have bright steel scabbards. The more common officers of Infantry, Artillery, and Ordnance had black leather scabbards with brass trim. Up until this time Ames did not make complete swords, but were more involved in making machinery, tools, and blades only. Samuel Huse of Newburyport was their main supplier of brass parts like the hilts for the Model 1832 Foot Artillery sword. As Ames took on the project of making these officer swords, there were reportedly many difficulties in tooling up, making machinery, and hiring the appropriate people to make entire swords in-house. In the meantime, Secretary of War Lewis Cass did not approve of the agreement to have the Ordnance Department take possession of and distribute the swords to individual officers directly. Instead, he ordered that Ames sell the swords to the individual officers. This decision almost bankrupt the fledgling sword company. Not only would Ames not get the immediate lump sum payment to defray the costs of tooling up and making the swords, they would also have to take on the timely and more burdensome task of individual sales. This allowed other assemblers the opportunity to import/assemble their own versions of the sword to sell directly to officers, taking away from Ames intended customers. In fact, some copies of the sword imported from Europe by other retailers are reported to have fake Ames and Ordnance markings. I believe that this sword may be one of those European imports. While the scabbard appears to be identical to the Ames scabbard on page 68 of John H. Thillmamm's book " Civil War Army Swords", and the blade tang has the "ORD" Ordnance markings and "M" inspector initial found on the Ames blade shown on page 65, there are no Ames markings on the blade. In addition, the tuft of feathers on the back on the blade's engraved eagle heads also look like the design used on imported blades. In 1834 the regular Army was quite small with relatively few officers. It is difficult to find this scarce sword in nice condition and with the original scabbard as not that many were made, and it is missing from many sword collections. While there is some scattered pitting towards the tip of the blade, and some scattered dark spots elsewhere, the majority of the blade is bright with crisp etching. The scabbard is complete and in one piece, but does have weak spots and is floppy in the middle. If not handled carefully and supported when not on the sword, it will easily break. In fact, it does appear that there may be some old repairs or reinforcement done on the scabbard's reverse center and right above the drag. These are mentioned for exactness, but the scabbard does display very nicely. Please take a look at all the photos as they provide the best description. Shipping to the lower contiguous 48 states. Shipping cost $45.00
Price: $1,600.00