Sold for $1,560

Sold prices are inclusive of Buyer’s Premium

Lot Description

Ames Model 1834 Officer's Sword

Pre-Mexican American War

31" double-edged spear point blade with a 27.75" unstopped narrow median fuller and 1.13" wide at the ricasso. 37.25" in overall length with a 6.125" gilt brass hilt with a boat shell guard, tapered straight upper and lower quillons, a bulbous pommel cap and a silver wire grip wrap. Edges of the guard and knuckle bow are decorated with beaded motifs. Obverse ricasso with traces of the dry needle etched NP Ames marking. Blade acid etched for about 17" of its length with foliate, martial and patriotic themes. White buff leather throat washer intact. Sword is accompanied by its gilt brass mounted leather scabbard. Scabbard with two suspension rings and a shell motif frog hook. A lovely example of a scarce, early American officer's sword from the pre-Mexican War period.

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg

Condition Report

Very good. Blade a mostly dull pewter patina retaining most of the etched pattern with some thinning and fading to the etching. Only the first line of the dry needle etched maker's mark is partially legible. Hilt with much of the gilt finish and the twisted silver wire in place. Scabbard about good to very good. Leather complete with moderate crazing and some finish loss and showing three major creases that are weak, one between the throat and middle mount and the other two between the middle mount and the drag. Brass mounts with some traces of gilt finish.

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