1832 Foot Artillery Civil War Sword
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:184648 |
Foot Artillery Sword, Model 1832In 1832 the Ames Manufacturing Co. began the manufacture of a new
sword for the regular artillery regiments. Based upon a French pattern, the new sword resembled the popular conception of the Roman infantry sword. Unwieldy and tactically useless as a weapon, this sword nevertheless served the foot artillery until about 1870, and in fact, in the Regulations for the Government of the Ordnance Department for 1834 and 1839 it was stated that this swo...rd would also be used by the infantry. On the specimen selected for illustration, the blade is straight, double-edged, and elliptical in cross-section. There are two broad fullers 334 inches long side by side near the hilt. Then, after a space of 1 inch, there is a single broad fuller 1084 inches long in the center of the blade. One side of the blade is stamped near the hilt “US/A.D.K.” (A. D. King) in two lines. The other side is stamped “AMES MFG CO/ CHICOPEE/MASS.” The entire hilt is cast brass. The grips are molded in a scalloped decoration to suggest eagle feathers, and there are three transverse iron rivets through it to hold the tang of the blade. The pommel is trilobate and decorated on both sides with an American eagle and shield. The straight cross quillons are stamped on one side “A.D.K./J.W.R." The scabbard is black leather with a brass throat and tip. A stud is fastened on the obverse side of the throat for attachment to a frog. Some specimens of this sword are found without fullers in the blade. 25 inches overall, blade 19 inches by 134 inches wide at the hilt.Condition is Used.
