April 27-30, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2021
Regulation Civil War U.S. naval officer’s sword by Ames. Standard configuration, with eagle and stars on pommel cap, sea serpent figural knucklebow and quillon, acorn and oak leaf decorated openwork guard with “USN” on ribbon. Sharkskin wrap shows typical Ames age gap. Wire missing. Sea serpent motifs on guard picked up on scabbard drag. Knotted rope ring bands are reflected in blade etching. Obverse blade etching shows clear Ames address, lattice work and floral spray, US shield superimposed on an anchor, an oval of stars, and stand of arms amid floral elements. Reverse shows gun carriage, eagle with raised wings and sun rays above, “USN” in scroll, knotted cable, etc. CONDITION: Good to very good. Scabbard is broken at upper edge of drag. Lapped seam on reverse raised slightly. Creases, crackling and small finish loss. Wear to gilt mounts matches hilt. Tang shows slight roughness, likely struck to tighten blade. Blade shows gray and brown stains, more on reverse than obverse, but some frosting in the etched panels and would respond to a careful cleaning. Nice wartime width to the blade and made by the preeminent U.S. sword maker of the period. SR