NEAR EXCELLENT AMES KNIGHT’S HEAD POMMEL MILITIA OFFICER’S SWORD

$2,200.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 597-17

Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer

To Order:
Call 717-334-0347,
Fax 717-334-5016, or E-mail

This Ames militia officer’s sword is in near excellent condition, with full length blade showing nice edge and point, smooth bright metal, with vivid etching on a bright frosted ground and Ames dry needle etched blade address: Ames Mfg Co. Chicopee Mass, which is also stamped on the upper reverse of the scabbard. Hilt and scabbard are gilt brass, with lots of finish left on them. The pommel is in the form of a high-crested visored and plumed Greco-Roman helmet with double-chain knuckleguard connecting to the end of one of the flat, fan shaped quillons on the cruciform guard, with the quillons having a stippled surface inside plain, raised borders, as does the quillon block and rudimentary langets with lower edges forming two curves. The grips are flat mother-of-pearl panels with top and bottom gilt brass straps. The grips have no chips or cracks. The brass shows just slight rubbing to the finish or darkening on a few spots of the helmet and a little along the edges of the grip straps.

The blade is the 1834 configuration, straight, double edged with a central narrow fuller, and spearpoint tip. Both sides use floral panels, oak leaves and acorns and leafy vines in the etching to set off figural panels. On the obverse this is a small trophy of arms consisting of a bow, quiver and shield in a lower panel and in an upper panel a U.S. eagle with raised wings, arrows and olive branch, with E Pluribus Unum ribbon in its beak under a glory of stars and sun beams. On the reverse a tall central, figural panel shows a crossed pair of tall pikes with furled flags with a Liberty Cap on a pole rising above them at center with a burst of sun beams overhead. On both sides of the blade the frosting ends in flame-like leafy points. The scabbard is fitted with two carrying rings at top and one at the midpoint, all mounted by simple loops on the scabbard edge, but set off by floral and geometric engraved motifs. The drag has a button finial, cast in the form of a small flower bud with engraved, nested flowering shoots extending a few inches up the scabbard. As is usual, the reverse of the scabbard is plain, except for the stamped Ames address at top.

This is a very good looking sword in exceptionally nice condition, dating to the 1830s or early 1840s, made by the preeminent American sword maker of the period. It was likely carried by an officer in the “elegant elite,” that is: one of the uniformed companies of volunteer militia who competed with one another on the drill field and in the neatness of their uniforms and equipment. [sr][ph:L]

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