This non-regulation or militia officer’s eagle pommel sword dates about 1835 and is an early product of N.P. Ames, who came to dominate the market but only got into the sword business with government contracts for the 1832 short sword, the 1833 dragoon saber and 1832/34 officer’s sword, the latter of which almost put him out of business when the terms were altered. This pattern is illustrated by Hamilton on pages 44-45, dated to ca. 1835, but mistakenly listed as an army line officer’s sword. In this he follows Peterson, who connects it with 1821 regulations designating a straight-bladed officer’s sword, but thought the 1832/34 officer’s sword was strictly for general staff.

This pattern avoids the extravagant Rococo cast and chased langets and downturned counterguards shown of many imported swords and goes back to the five-ball guard, a slight reverse-P, and side branch that was popular from about 1795-1810, the major difference being in the use of reeded bone grip round in cross-section, rather than squared ivory. The hilt has lots of gilt finish remaining. The grip has three or four small chips at the collar of the pommel on the top and reverse, but is stable and has no long cracks. The red fabric blade pad is in place. The blade is straight, single-edged, with single fuller and a false edge- essentially a spadroon blade and similar to what Ames would use on his 1840 NCO and Musician swords. The blade measures about 27 ¾ inches. The metal is bright with completely visible etching, the frosting shifting only slightly toward a silver gray. There are a few scattered thin gray spots and just little roughness to the edge about halfway between the end of the etching and the tip.

The obverse is dry-point etched at bottom “N.P. Ames / Cutler / Springfield” in a foliate oval panel from which floral scrolls emerge and morph into a long, leafy branch of oak leaves and acorns. Above this is a floral entwined sword and quiver with a typically Ames upright eagle clutching arrows and olive branch, flourishing overhead an E Pluribus Unum banderole with a half sunburst above. A short vine finishes the panel with the frosting ending in leafy flamboyant terminals. The reverse uses the same floral scrolls and leafy branch at bottom, leading to tall trophy of arms with crossed, furled flags on lances, between which emerges Liberty Cap on a pole with a sunburst above and leafy vine ending the panel, which has flamboyant terminals like the obverse.

This was made toward the end of the period of popularity for American eagle pommel swords, and it is interesting how Ames has gone back to an earlier period for inspiration.    [sr] [PH:m/L]

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