Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is agreat example of an Ames Model 1832 Artillery Short sword, dated 1838. This…
Original Item: Only One Available. This is agreat example of an Ames Model 1832 Artillery Short sword, dated 1838. This design offoot artillery sword has a straight, heavy double-edged steel blade.There are two side-by-side fullers, starting just below the hilt. Then, after a space of 11/16″, there is a single center fuller that extends toward the blade’s spear shaped point. The overall blade length is approximately 19 1/4”.
The blade is stamped on the reverse, near the hilt:
U.S.1838
On the obverse, near the hilt stamped under a partially struckAmerican Eagle, is:
N. P. AMESSPRINGFIELD
It looks like the stamping was not well executed for this, but the marking is definitely there.
The hilt and cross guard are cast and partly machined brass. The grips have been molded in a scalloped eagle feather design. Three transverse iron rivets secure it to the tang of the blade. The pommel is decorated on each side with a heavily incised American eagle, with shield, holding arrows in his left talon and an olive branch in his right talon. The eagle’s head faces towards its right. The straight cross quillons terminate in disk shaped finials.
The blade on this example is one of the best we have ever seen. It does have some staining, but a lot of the original factory machining marks can still be seen. It also does not look to have ever been sharpened, so both edges are completely blunt. There is a little bit of rust peppering in places, but nothing major. The hilt is also in good shape, though it does have an overall curve and a large dent on one side, as it is hollow. There is also a dent on that side on the pommel.
This is a very nice example of a sword used before and during the U.S. Civil War. Ready to display!
Specifications:Blade Length: 191/4″Blade Style:Double Edged “Gladius” styleOverall length: 25 1/4“Crossguard: 4 1/4”
