August 18 & 19, 2020 Edged Weapons, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/18/2020
This is a beautiful example of a popular U.S. Army sword with its original scabbard, white buff belt, and buckle. Modeled on the French 1816 pattern for artillerymen, it was adopted in 1832. The blade on this example is bright, with excellent point and edge showing very minor nicks and no sharpening. The fullers are crisply defined. Largely a mirror finish, there are just some slight gray stains near the lower pair of fullers on either side and a little freckling at the ricasso. The Ames eagle and N.P. Ames / Springfield are light along the top of each lone on 1 side, but the "U.S. / 1843" marking and the J.C.B. inspector's marks on the other side are sharp. The brass hilt has medium tone, with good definition to the eagle on the pommel and crisp "W.A.T" inspector stamp on the guard side flat. The eagle-feather grip shows just minor handling marks. The guard channels are crisp. The regulation black leather scabbard has its mounts in place. The seam is tight. The leather has good color and surface. There are no bends, breaks, or creases. The white buff waist belt is excellent as well. The leather is solid and flexible. The 2-piece interlocking plate is the regulation 1839 pattern that replaced the 1832 pattern with separate disks joined by an S-hook. Ames produced just 1,000 in 1843 on a March 25 U.S. contract All were delivered by July and seem to have gone to states. This is an excellent example dating before the Mexican War and like most in state hands remained in this earlier configuration even after 1851. CONDITION: Excellent overall, just minor gray and some freckling at the base of the blade near the guard. SR
Item Dimensions: Length: 25".