MODEL 1840 HEAVY CAVALRY SABER w/ SCABBARD – 1845
dated AMES –ONE OF ONLY 600 DELIVERED THAT YEAR - BLADE
AND SCABBARD IN EXCELLENT CONDITION: This very
nice Model 1840 Heavy Cavalry Enlisted Man’s Saber, not
only bears a very desirable early date of 1845, but is a
rare survivor of the lot of only 600 Model 1840 sabres
delivered by Ames that year. Given the date, it is
highly likely that this blade was carried south in the
prosecution of Mr. Polk’s War with Mexico.
Manufactured by the Ames Sword Company and so marked on
the ricasso of the blade with legible stampings as clear
as the day they were struck, “N.P. Ames, Cabotville,
1845” and on the reverse. “US" and the inspector's
initials "JH”. The pommel cap is
legibly inspected, “WAT” for Capt. William Anderson
Thornton and “NWP” for Nahum Patch. What are
likely soldier applied initials, "MW", are hand etched
into the main bow of the guard - the soldier's effort to
identify his sabre.
The blade surface is very smooth and overall bright and
clean, with minor, light scattered discoloration
commensurate with the age of this sabre. The edge has a
few very minor nicks, again in character with the age
and long service life of this sabre. The most
significant of these nicks are shown below in the
photographs – typical of the edge wear that occurred in
service and not the result of abuse or mishandling, nor
do they detract from the overall appearance of the
blade. The tip of the blade has retained the original
profile and length.
The leather covering on the grip is tight, and the
surface of the leather is smooth with little wear,
and no crazing or flaking. The wire wrap is present and
tight, and the leather washer is present between the
blade and the guard.
The scabbard is full form, with a complete throat, both
carrying rings, a solid seam with no splits, a drag in
the original shape with no excessive wear, and has an
overall naturally aged smooth brown color. The
upper ring is struck with an inspector's initial
signifying the scabbard had been accepted. The surface of the
scabbard is overall smooth with few isolated patches of
very light pitting, but none that are particularly
noticeable.
Manufactured in the year immediately before the onset of
the Mexican War, this scarce first year of production
Ames Model 1840 Heavy Cavalry Sabre is very evocative of
that early expansion era, the active campaigning of the
Mounted Rifles and Dragoons on the Frontier, and the
occupation of the areas of the Southwest then recently
ceded to the United States. Not a “hothouse rose” that
waited out the conflicts of our Nation’s growth in a
supply depot, this blade is one that certainly witnessed
history of a scope than we can only imagine. The
desirable maker, the early date of manufacture and the
very nice condition all combine to present this saber as
a very historic and desirable acquisition. These
early dated specimens do not surface often, and once
retired from the market into a collection, it will once
again lie quietly for many years to come.
SOLD
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