National Museum of African American History and Culture
Sword from the Civil War era
Ames Manufacturing Company, American, founded 1791 · 1861-1865
A plain single-edged model M1840 steel sword without decoration and a distinctive turned-down reverse guard. The hilt has an urn-type pommel and single branch counterguard. The keystone mark on the ricasso is an Emerson & Silver keystone. The 26-inch blade is five or six inches shorter than a standard 31- or 32-inch NCO blade. A short blade normally identifies a sword as one carried by an officer of short stature, cadets, etc. The number “54” is stamped into the interior of the double clamshell guard. The sword shows no signs of wear.
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