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MODEL 1906 AMES “IRON GUARD” LIGHT CAVALRY SABRE –
VERY NICE SPECIMEN: Based on available
information, the Model 1906 “Iron Guard” Light Cavalry
Sabre was the result of a cooperative effort between the
U.S. Army Ordnance Department and the Ames Sword Company
of Chicopee, Massachusetts to produce a sabre to
replenish the dwindling stocks of the brass guard Light
Cavalry sabres. As with so much other military
equipment, the quantity of Light Cavalry Sabres produced
during the Civil War was so great that the sabres held
in inventory continued to supply the army’s needs until
after the turn of the 20TH Century.
After some discussion between the Ordnance Department
and Ames, and various considerations taken into account
regarding the metallurgy and design characteristics, a
contract was let out to the Ames Sword Company for
20,000 sabres (in fact, Ames eventually delivered
18,961). The design adhered to that of the Light
Cavalry Sabre, however the guard was changed from brass
to iron, and the space between the scabbard rings was
reduced to improve the balance when the sabre was
carried (see comparison photograph below). As the final
evolution of the Light Cavalry Sabre, the Model 1906
holds an important place in the lineage of US Cavalry
Sabres, being the last curved blade sabre carried by the
cavalry troopers.
The Model 1906 was listed in the
Ordnance Department Manual “Horse Equipments and
Equipments for Officers and Enlisted Men” dated May 10,
1905, revised on July 3, 1908, and published in its
final form in 1917. The original printing in 1905
described the standard Light Cavalry Sabre with the
brass guard – the same Light Cavalry Sabre in inventory
since before the Civil War. In the subsequent 1908 and
1917 printings of the same manual, the description in
the text and detail notes on the diagram of the sabre
had been revised to reflect the Model 1906 Iron Guard
Cavalry Sabre.
It is interesting to note that despite the design
changes which moved the bands and rings closer together
for the Model 1906 Scabbard, the diagram in the later
editions of that manual still represented the scabbard
with the same spacing of the bands and rings as they had
been for the previous fifty years. (See manual diagram
below).
This Model 1906 Iron Guard Sabre is in excellent
condition with no damage or misshaping, showing very
little sign of wear or use, and it features a very
attractive blade. The iron guard is full form, is not
misshapen due to wear or use.
The surface of the guard is
overall smooth with no pitting, and the original blued
finish
has aged to an attractive even
plum brown color. The original grip leather is fully
intact with a smooth surface and none of the
wear-through spots that so many of these sabres
exhibit. The original wire wrapping is present, still
very tight, and complete save for a short 1” section of
the wire missing from the top of the grip in the last
groove – the missing section is not overly apparent and
both ends of the wire are tightly secured into leather.
The leather washer on the face of the guard is present.
The blade is full form, the metal surface is overall
bright, and the ricasso cross polishing is still
present. There are a scattering of light frosting on
the length of the blade on both sides – small darkened
spots, but no perceptible pitting, just a natural aging
of the steel. The edge is clean and smooth with no
nicks.
The ricasso is stamped with a legible Ames Sword Company
maker’s stamp, the Ordnance “flaming bomb”, and the
date, “1906” on one side, and “US” and the inspector’s
initials “J.H.C.” on the other.
This Model 1906 Sabre is fitted with the earlier pattern
scabbard which had been issued with the Light Cavalry
Sabres since 1858. As noted above, while the Model 1906
was normally issued with a browned scabbard with the
closer set bands and rings, the current manual at the
time pictured the sabre with the older pattern
scabbard. Its worth noting,
(and perhaps explains the
pairing of this sabre with the earlier model scabbard)
that the drag features the added value of the
inspector’s initial stamp “ADK”. Andrew D. King was a
well known Ordnance Department sub-inspector during the
Civil War and one of the inspectors who was frequently
assigned to the Ames Sword Company. That his initials
appear on this scabbard indicates it was made during the
Civil War, and yet from its condition it is apparent
this scabbard was never issued during the 19Th
Century and was never exposed to any use. Scabbards are
not necessarily interchangeable from one maker to the
next due to variances in the curvature of the blades and
scabbards, so the fit of this scabbard to this sabre,
and the presence of King’s inspector stamp, makes it
very likely that Ames manufactured this scabbard. While
the browned Model 1906 Scabbards were appropriate for
field use, the change in uniforms and equipment from the
bright metal and blue uniforms of the previous century
to the subdued colors and finishes selected after the
turn of the 20TH Century did not change the
army’s attention to the appearance of their soldiers on
parade or on dress occasions. It is entirely possible
that this sabre was issued as is, or with this earlier
model scabbard as a spare, intending that the bright
scabbard be carried when the soldier was on parade.
The scabbard is full form without any dents, and is
complete with the throat and a full form drag. The
metal is overall smooth and bright with only light
frosting in isolated spots, but no darkening or pitting,
and the balance retaining a smooth clean finish.
The period in which the Model 1906
Light Cavalry Sabres were issued involved considerable
and strenuous campaign service along the Mexican Border
and in the Philippine Islands – environments that were
extremely harsh and consumed so much equipment. That
exposure, coupled with later poor storage and handling,
left so many of the sabres that did survive in “NRA
Embarrassing” condition with heavily pitted guards,
blades and scabbards. This is a very respectable and
attractive example of the last Light Cavalry sabre and
the condition of this specimen, coupled with the
historical context of the waning days of the U.S.
Cavalry, combine to make this sabre a very nice addition
to your collection.
(0103) $675
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