Original U.S. Mexican-American War Rare First Year Production Ames Model 1832 Artillery Short Sword with Partial Scabbard - Dated 1833

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely patinated example of an Ames Model 1832 Artillery Short sword, dated 1833, a very scarce first year example. This design of foot artillery sword has a straight, heavy double-edged steel blade. There are two side-by-side fullers, starting just below the hilt. Then, after a space of 11/16", there is a single center fuller that extends toward the blade's spear shaped point. The overall blade length is approximately 19 1/4''. This example retains the scabbard, but the drag has broken off, and there is enough leather missing where there is a noticeable empty space between them.

The blade is stamped on the reverse, near the hilt:

UNITED
STATES
1833

On the obverse, near the hilt stamped under an American Eagle, is:

N. P. AMES
SPRINGFIELD

The top of the crossguard is marked with S. HUSE and a D.T. cartouche.

The grips have been molded in a scalloped eagle feather design. Three transverse iron rivets secure it to the tang of the blade. The pommel is decorated on each side with a heavily incised American eagle, with shield, holding arrows in his left talon and an olive branch in his right talon. The eagle's head faces towards its right. The straight cross quillons terminate in disk shaped finials, which are in great shape. Overall the grip has a lovely aged patina, with no signs of aggressive cleaning.

The blade on this example looks amazing and still retains much of the factory bluing. There also looks to have been some water rust staining near the point of the blade. It was not heavily cleaned, and original grind marks can still be seen in the fullers and elsewhere on the blade. There are some nicks on the edge of the blade, so it definitely did see some level of use in service. The blade is a very small bit loose in the hilt, but there is just a small wobble, nothing serious. 

The black leather scabbard is in good condition, with a great look and mellow gold color on the brass fittings. The leather is heavily crazed and cracked in areas and the leather has become hard, pulling out all of the original seam stitching. The brass drag has torn off of the end of the scabbard and there is some leather loss as well, so the drag no longer sits on the scabbard and sits awkwardly on the tip of the blade.

Comes more than ready for display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 19 1/4"
Blade Style: Double Edged "Gladius" style
Overall length: 25 1/4“
Crossguard: 4 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 17 1/2"