US 1832 PATTERN 1844 DATED ARTILLERY SHORT SWORD AND DINGEE MARKED BELT

$3,950.00

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Item Code: 2024-1766

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The 1832 short sword had been specified for infantry sergeants and musicians as well as enlisted men of foot artillery. With the distribution of the 1840 sword patterns the sergeants and musicians received their own swords and the short sword became the sidearm of the foot artillery exclusively. This is a good example of the sword dated 1845 with its original white buff belt rig made and marked by Dingee, with its 1839 pattern two-piece artillery plate with a “U.S.,” which replaced the old 1832 S-link two-disk plate.

This has a pre-Mexican War 1844 date, and was likely supplied under the Ames August 26, 1844 contract for 1,000 swords, delivered by May 12, 1845. The hilt shows an old polish to bright, now re-acquiring a patina and the blade was plated, indicating it made its way into state militia or volunteer hands, something Ames heavily encouraged as a business practice on request from the federal government by states under the militia act.

The blade shows a “US” over “1845” and “NWP” on one ricasso. The other ricasso is marked, “N.P. AMES / 1845” with a third line of text obscured by the original leather washer. The channel of the cross guard is clearly stamped “NWP” on one side by the inspector, and “WAJ” on the opposite. The blade has a good edge and point, though the plating is worn along the edges and on some high points near the tip, showing the underlying steel as a darker gray. The scabbard is complete and the leather has a good seam and only minor crackling to the finish, but is loose at the upper edge of the drag, which is still present and attached.  It could be sleeved and reattached or left in its present condition without functionality concerns.

The two-piece belt plate is very good and the belt is complete and in solid condition with good seams. It does show dirt and some minor stains but the interior still shows a clear and fully legible maker’s mark stamped in ink, “MADE BY / R. & H.A. DINGEE / NEW YORK” in a rectangular cartouche with only minor rubbing. The original frog is in excellent condition with tight seams. The company is well known to collectors as a supplier of leather gear to the army, having started in 1803 in harness and saddle making, receiving its first government contracts in 1814 and remained in business throughout the Civil War in the hands of Robert Sr. (died 1843) and sons Robert Jr. (died 1841) and Henry A., the latter also in a partnership as Dingee & Lorigan.

This is a very good example of a scarce early US infantry belt with appropriate sword dating to the Mexican War and early US expansion into the west. It would fit well in a US edged weapons collection and would display well while relating to the Mexican War, the antebellum U.S. Army, and the Civil War.    [cm] [ph:c/L]

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