Rare United States Civil War M1860 Steel and Brass Light Cavalry Saber and Scabbard, Ames Mfg. Co., Chicopee, Massachusetts, 1858. Carbon steel sword with brass guard, the hilt covered in a leather and wood grip wrapped in twisted brass wire, one side of the ricasso marked "AMES MFG CO./ CHICOPEE/ MASS.," and on the other side "US/ JH/ 1858," brass pommel stamped with the initials "JH" and "W.A.T." on the brim of the pommel cap; the steel scabbard with two carrying rings.Size in sheath: H: 43.25 in., W: 4.75 in., D: 4.25 in.Blade: H: 36 in.The initials on the pommel cap and ricasso are for the inspectors Joseph or John Hannis and William A. Thornton, who inspected the sword on October 18, 1858. It is likely the initials, oriented straight up and down, are for Joseph Hannis. There are periods after each letter for John Hannis, and the letters tilt to the left. John Hannis left to work at the Colt's Manufacturing Company after the October 1858 inspections. Ames encountered some problems with the manufacture of swords under the first contract with US Ordnance in 1857. Soldiers were unhappy with the heaviness of the saber, which made it unwieldy, and there were issues with overall workmanship. The government issued a second contract April 14, 1858, when the sword in the offered lot was produced. The "new pattern" 1860 saber was lighter and more maneuverable. The sword would have been used in the early Indian Wars and throughout the Civil War.

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43.375 x 4.5 x 3.875 in