28" slightly curved single-edged spear point blade, 34" in overall length. 1.125" wide at ricasso with an 18.5" stopped median fuller and a 12.5" narrow fuller along the spine. 6" brass hilt with pierced guard having USN relief cast in the face and showing traditional oak leaf motifs. Guard with sea-serpent quillon and pommel cap with a droop-winged eagle surrounded by 13 stars. Grooved wood hilt wrapped in shagreen with eleven wraps of twisted brass wire. Blade etched with traditional foliate, nautical and martial themes and in three lines on the reverse ricasso TOMES, SON / & MELVAIN / NEW YORK. Brass mounted leather scabbard with engraved mounts showing traditional nautical motifs. Upper mount engraved USN on the face and in seven lines on the reverse: Presented to / Edwin Smith MM / for Gallantry. / by his friends / of Jamaica L.T. / Franklin, VA / Washington, NC.
Edwin Smith was born in New York, NY 1841 and enlisted in the US Navy as an Ordinary Seaman at some point prior to October of 1862. He was serving aboard the USS Whitehead during operations against Franklin, VA near Washington, NC when the Whitehead ran aground in the Blackwater River and found itself in grave danger. Realizing that the launching of a small boat under enemy fire to try to pull the ship free was too dangerous to consider, Smith volunteered to swim to shore with a line to pull the ship free. Smith was mentioned in dispatches for his gallantry and was subsequently awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by the Secretary of the Navy. The Medal of Honor citation reads: "On board the U.S.S. Whitehead in the attack upon Franklin, VA., 3 October 1862. When the ship became grounded in a narrow passage as she rounded the bend in the Blackwater River, Smith, realizing the hazards of lowering a boat voluntarily swam to shore with a line under the enemy's heavy fire. His fearless action enabled his ship to maintain steady fire and keep the enemy in check during the battle." Later that month Smith was promoted to Masters Mate. That appointment was subsequently rescinded in March of 1865 due to illness and he was dishonorably discharged in April of 1867.
The sword is accompanied by a large binder or research regarding Smith and the action, with copies of period documents, correspondence with the National Archives and the US Navy and the results of the inquiries into Smith's service.
Very good. Blade with a mostly dull pewter patina and showing scattered surface oxidation and discoloration. Etching remains mostly intact and clearly visible with some minor wear and loss. Hilt with a rich, dark patina. Grip with moderate wear to the covering with some areas of loss and wear exposing the wood below. There is also some loss to the wire wrap with some missing strands. Leather throat washer in place and intact. Scabbard good to very good with moderate wear and crazing to the leather and some flaked finish loss. Brass mounts with a rich, dark copper patina over most of their surfaces, except the rear of the throat which has been cleaned to make the engraving easier to read. The middle mount has shifted upwards about .25" to .5" from its original location and the drag is missing the set screw. Both suspension rings remain intact.