December 14-17, 2021 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/14/2021
Lot consists of two swords. (A) Very scarce 1850 dated and US inspected foot officer's sword. First year of production. Modelled on the French 1845 officer's sword, just 800 of these were contracted for by U.S. Ordnance with the Ames company in 1850. This is one of 550 specified with a 30 - 1/2" blade length. Deliveries started in March 1851 and were completed in February 1852. The 1850 date on the blade indicates very early production and likely very early delivery. Standard configuration hilt with full dark gray sharkskin wrap and wire binding. Bottom seam slightly open. 30% or better gilt remaining. Blade stamped U.S. / A.D.K. / 1850 obverse ricasso. Blade pad missing. Hilt tight. Good edge and point. No scabbard. Etching visible on both sides, but blade is a mix of light and dark gray. Obverse etched with fan, latticework, stand of arms, US shield on arms display, Ames style spread-winged eagle with banner overhead mixed with foliate scrolls throughout. Reverse etched "Ames Mfg Co./ Chicopee / Mass." with floral and martial motifs mixed with floral scrolls and a central "U.S." CONDITION: Good. Etching is visible as dull silver against gray frosting, but blade darkens on either side above the midpoint making it harder to discern. Still, a very scarce date to find when the regular army was small and private suppliers were not yet making the new pattern. B) Ames 1863 dated 1840 pattern NCO sword. Standard configuration, brass hilt with imitation wire wrap and double clamshell guard, spadroon blade. Ames banner/scroll address light but visible reverse ricasso. US/ADK/1863 inspection stamp obverse ricasso. AHK inspection stamp knucklebow. Age patina to hilt with some brown spotting. CONDITION: Good. Blade edge shows some tiny nicks and a narrow band of sharpening along the lower 3/4 of the blade.
Item Dimensions: Longest: 39"
Blade Length
(A) 30 - 1/2" (B) 32 - 1/4"
Overall Length
(A) 36" (B) 39"