Antique 1862 Ames US Navy Civil War Cutlass Sword Leather Scabbard M1860 33"

Description

Antique Civil War Union army military M1860 United States Naval cutlass / sword. A compact, slightly curved blade with a brass capped guard and Phrygian helmet shaped pommel framing a black shagreen leather wrapped grip with two strand twisted wbrass wire wrapping. Includes a stitched back black leather scabbard with brass collar and tip. Blade marked USN / DR / 1862 on front of ricasso and Ames Mfg Co / Chicopee / Mass on reverse. No extant serial number found on quillion.

"The U.S. Navy M1860 cutlass was originally designed from the French Model 1833 naval cutlass which itself was designed from an earlier French 1803 model cutlass. The US Navy's M1860 cutlass differed slightly in design; the blade was significantly less wider and a bit shorter thus making it alot less lighter than the French M1833. There will always be (43) rivets on the scabbard of an M1860 cutlass, always on the reverse side. Anything different is a reproduction and every cutlass shipped by Ames came with a scabbard. There are 10 brass rivets which secure the closed hilt cup to the hilt guard. If the hilt is missing these rivets, or does not have a closed cup then either it is a reproduction or the cup was removed at some point in time. The wooden grip has been machine detailed to provide 20 grooves in which a layer of shagreen leather has been put over and then wrapped in 3 stranded brass wire that snugly fits into the grooves securing leather and wood together. It is assumed that the wire wrap on the grip has been re-worked, or this naval cutlass was never issued for sea service use or the wire wrapping would have been removed. At the written request of the US Navy the Ames Company stamped a serial number on each and every cutlass. This serial number will always be found on the inside of the quillion (or guard) as shown. This serial number consists of 2 digits and an M on the first line and 3 digits on the line below. The top number represents thousands and the bottom number represents hundreds. The pommel cap on this naval cutlass is sometimes referred to as a Phrygian-helmet design type of cap because it resembles a Phrygian helmet. At the Ames Manufacturing Company there was an individual named Daniel Reynolds (initials DR) which was responsible for inspecting a substantial amount (if not all) of the model M1860 cutlasses produced. And his initials are typically sometimes found on the pommel and most always on the ricasso of the M1860 cutlass. This is the most important area in identifying the provenance of the M1860 Naval Cutlass, on the blade's ricasso. In general one should see any and all of the identifying marks... on one side of the blade, and directly on the obverse side would be the identifying maker's mark of the Ames Manufacturing Company of Chicopee, Massachusetts. At the top would be the "anchor" ... Below that would sometimes be a capital "P", which no one seems to know the significance. Next would be the initials "U.S.N." which again is self explanatory, with periods separating the letters. Next would be the military inspector's initials, in all cases we have found them to be "D.R." with the letters separated by periods. Lastly, closest to the quintillion or guard would be the year of manufacture. In this case 1862 which we believe was when a significant number of this model cutlass was made. The latest production date found was 1865. While we have seen some authentic M1860's without either that large P or the anchor, at the barest minimum you should at least see in some recognizable form the initials USN, the initials DR and the Date. On the obverse side of the blade at the ricasso you will find the manufacture's maker mark, and in this case it will always be Made By, AMES MFg Co , CHICOPEE , MASS in scripted text within a scroll box..." (The Pirates Lair)

"Ames Mfg. Co.: The Ames Manufacturing Company, Chicopee, Massachusetts, was founded in 1832 by James Tyler Ames and his brother, Nathan Peabody Ames. The company manufactured small tools, cotton machinery, swords, cannons, and did casting of bells. They started production of military contract swords in 1832 with the M1832 foot artillery sword, and ended with the M1906 cavalry saber in 1906. Ames produced more swords for the American military than any other company before or since, totaling over 200,000 swords in service by the end of the Civil War. In that time, at least ten different manufacturing marks were used on the swords. A little knowledge of the company history helps place a date range for when each stamp was used. When the company started producing swords it was led by Nathan P. Ames, and most marks reflected that fact. In 1847, Nathan died and left the company to his brother James. The markings on the blades were immediately changed from N.P. Ames to Ames Mfg. Co. In 1848, the town of Cabotville was incorporated into Chicopee, Massachusetts, and the marks were once again changed to reflect this. Blades dated as late as 1850 may still bear the Cabotville stamp, as the old dies were probably used until they were worn out. In a much reduced state, they are still in business today." (Land and Sea Collection)

Condition

Good Overall - Gentle wear; stains to leather; spots/tarnish/rusting to metal

Dimensions

32.5" x 4.75" x 4.25" / Blade Length - 26" (Length x Width x Height)