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Sword w/scabbard: U.S.

ca. 1860

Steel, fish skin; steel

Overall: 38 7/8 x 5 x 4 1/8 in. ( 98.7 x 12.7 x 10.5 cm )

Gift of Miss Rosalie Telfair James

1933.121ab

This sword is referred to as a "U.S. infantry officer's saber" in the accession records, an identification based on an illustration in Smithsonian Institution Bulletin No. 163 (p. 121). The sword belonged to the donor's father, Captain E. William James, who served in the 32nd Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.

DescriptionSword with slightly curved, single-edged steel blade with three-quarter width fuller and etched designs on obverse and reverse; steel half-basket hilt with two sweeping branches on the obverse side and two corresponding openings in the counter-guard on the reverse side; curved quillon with disk finial; grip covered in fish skin and wrapped with wire; domed oval pommel joined to strip of metal that extends to ferrule at base of grip; steel scabbard with two carrying rings and drag.

Markingsin relief: on metal disk inset into ricasso on obverse side of blade: "PROVED / +" stamped: on ricasso on reverse side of blade: an arrow inside an oval frame with dotted outline etched: on reverse of blade: "U.S"

ClassificationsMILITARY TOOLS & EQUIPMENT: SWORD