The 1833 U.S. Dragoon saber was modeled on the British 1821/22 light cavalry sabers and replaced the old pattern Starr sabers. Contracts were given to Ames starting in early 1834 and the sword was the standard edged weapon for U.S. mounted troops into the beginning of the Mexican War and was still in the hands of many state troops and militia units at the beginning of the Civil War.

This is how many collectors like to find a sword. The scabbard shows use and age, but the sword itself shows great condition when drawn. The brass hilt has a mellow patina. The brown thin leather grip wrap is all there and tight and the coiled brass binding wire is in place and not sprung. The leather shows some wear and minor finish loss and a couple of pencil point holes, but is rates very good. The scabbard is complete with throat, drag and carrying rings in place. It is a crusty brown overall with raised rust and pitting from exposure. It is tough to make out any inspector initials on the drag. The real pleasure and surprise is in how well it protected the blade which has some bright metal mixed with silver-gray and just a few scattered dark gray or light brown age spots and more subdued gray rubbing on one side at the tip.

Unlike many examples of this saber, the dry-point engraved blade motto and maker’s name and date are completely legible. These are often light or polished into oblivion. Above the ricasso on the obverse is “ N.P. Ames / Cutler / Springfield / 1837.” Below this, crisply stamped in the blade are the inspector’s initials “W.S.” which matches the “W.S.” inspector stamp on the quillon of the brass guard. Further along the blade, also in dry-point script engraving, is “United States” over two parallel lines and a thin, leafed branch below.

This saber was one of 1,700 sabers for which Ames received a contract in late 1835 and delivered through 1836 and 1837. It is the saber carried by in the early years of US westward expansion and it has a nice combination of having an both an, “out-of-the-attic” look and very good condition.  [sr]

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