A US Pawn Stars TV show customer brought in this sword to sell. They weren't interested.
The sword owner thought that this might be a Masonic Sword (Knights Templar). The owner of Pawn Stars decided that the sword was of no value as it had likely been produced around 1900 as a Knights of Columbus sword but that at some later date a jeweller added a Square and Compasses to change its use or sale to that of a Masonic sword.
Ames Mfg. Co.
The Ames Company started production of military contract swords in 1832 with the M1832 foot artillery sword, and ended with the M1906 cavalry saber in 1906. Ames produced more swords for the American military than any other company before or since, totalling over 200,000 swords in service by the end of the Civil War. In that time, at least ten different manufacturing marks were used on the swords. A little knowledge of the company history helps place a date range for when each stamp was used. When the company started producing swords it was led by Nathan P. Ames, and most marks reflected that fact. In 1847, Nathan died and left the company to his brother James. The markings on the blades were immediately changed from N.P. Ames to Ames Mfg. Co. In 1848, the town of Cabotville was incorporated into Chicopee, Massachusetts, and the marks were once again changed to reflect this. I have, however, seen blades dated as late as 1850 that still bear the Cabotville stamp, as the old dies were probably used until they were worn out.
The M1832 foot artillery swords, being Ames's first swords, were stamped with the eagle trademark already common on their other products. The attached picture shows most of the important details of the sword, except for the fact that the scabbard stud appears to have been removed and two carrying rings were attached. I have also observed several examples dated 1835 that do not bear an inspector’s initials on the blade. In most cases the marks will show some wear from being rubbed by the scabbard, and may be partially or mostly obliterated. Dates found on this sword range from 1832 to 1862, and I have included pictures of swords from every decade included in that span. The early models of this sword were marked as having been made in Springfield instead of Cabotville. The M1841 cutlass (dated 1842-1846) is the only other military issue Ames sword marked this way. The cutlass has been seen to list either the Springfield or Cabotville address, although these swords lack the eagle mark.
Ames’ second contract was for the M1833 dragoon saber. A rather clumsy weapon, it was quickly replaced. The marks on this saber appear to have actually been engraved into the blades, rather than stamped. In cursive script, they read N.P. Ames/Cutler/Springfield/year, and are dated from 1834 to 1839.
The 1840 models of cavalry, NCO, light artillery, and musician swords tend to have identical styles of marks for corresponding years. This trend continues when the 1860 models of cutlass and cavalry saber are introduced. The 1840 models’ were originally marked with N.P. Ames/Cabotville/date in the 1840s, followed by Ames Mfg. Co. /Cabotville/date around 1847, then by Ames Mfg. Co/Chicoppee/Mass in the 1850s. The latter mark was also used through the Civil war on some cavalry sabers. Sometime in the late 1850s (the earliest I have seen was 1859), Ames started using a new mark on all enlisted models that was carried through the Civil War. The words Made by/Ames Mfg. Co/Chicopee/Mass are enclosed within an unraveled scroll, and initials/US/date is stamped on the opposite side of the blade. This scroll mark is usually very weak, and often has been partially worn down by the scabbard—this is a feature that helps in authenticating the sword. I have also seen one other Ames mark, which I've seen repeatedly, but only on M1860 cavalry sabers dated 1864. The mark is shaped like an arc with the words Ames Mfg. Co/Chicopee,/Mass.
Finally, I am including pictures of the M1905 experimental saber and the M1906 Cavalry saber. I have twice seen the M1906 sold as a Civil War piece after the date was removed, so let the buyer beware! The M1905 and M1906 are the only models with a flaming bomb on the ricasso, and the company mark abbreviated to A.S.Co./bomb/1906. The mark is deep, and shouldn’t be worn off.
www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/9160304848/in/p...
A US Pawn Stars TV show customer brought in this sword to sell. They weren't interested.
The sword owner thought that this might be a Masonic Sword (Knights Templar). The owner of Pawn Stars decided that the sword was of no value as it had likely been produced around 1900 as a Knights of Columbus sword but that at some later date a jeweller added a Square and Compasses to change its use or sale to that of a Masonic sword.
Ames Mfg. Co.
The Ames Company started production of military contract swords in 1832 with the M1832 foot artillery sword, and ended with the M1906 cavalry saber in 1906. Ames produced more swords for the American military than any other company before or since, totalling over 200,000 swords in service by the end of the Civil War. In that time, at least ten different manufacturing marks were used on the swords. A little knowledge of the company history helps place a date range for when each stamp was used. When the company started producing swords it was led by Nathan P. Ames, and most marks reflected that fact. In 1847, Nathan died and left the company to his brother James. The markings on the blades were immediately changed from N.P. Ames to Ames Mfg. Co. In 1848, the town of Cabotville was incorporated into Chicopee, Massachusetts, and the marks were once again changed to reflect this. I have, however, seen blades dated as late as 1850 that still bear the Cabotville stamp, as the old dies were probably used until they were worn out.
The M1832 foot artillery swords, being Ames's first swords, were stamped with the eagle trademark already common on their other products. The attached picture shows most of the important details of the sword, except for the fact that the scabbard stud appears to have been removed and two carrying rings were attached. I have also observed several examples dated 1835 that do not bear an inspector’s initials on the blade. In most cases the marks will show some wear from being rubbed by the scabbard, and may be partially or mostly obliterated. Dates found on this sword range from 1832 to 1862, and I have included pictures of swords from every decade included in that span. The early models of this sword were marked as having been made in Springfield instead of Cabotville. The M1841 cutlass (dated 1842-1846) is the only other military issue Ames sword marked this way. The cutlass has been seen to list either the Springfield or Cabotville address, although these swords lack the eagle mark.
Ames’ second contract was for the M1833 dragoon saber. A rather clumsy weapon, it was quickly replaced. The marks on this saber appear to have actually been engraved into the blades, rather than stamped. In cursive script, they read N.P. Ames/Cutler/Springfield/year, and are dated from 1834 to 1839.
The 1840 models of cavalry, NCO, light artillery, and musician swords tend to have identical styles of marks for corresponding years. This trend continues when the 1860 models of cutlass and cavalry saber are introduced. The 1840 models’ were originally marked with N.P. Ames/Cabotville/date in the 1840s, followed by Ames Mfg. Co. /Cabotville/date around 1847, then by Ames Mfg. Co/Chicoppee/Mass in the 1850s. The latter mark was also used through the Civil war on some cavalry sabers. Sometime in the late 1850s (the earliest I have seen was 1859), Ames started using a new mark on all enlisted models that was carried through the Civil War. The words Made by/Ames Mfg. Co/Chicopee/Mass are enclosed within an unraveled scroll, and initials/US/date is stamped on the opposite side of the blade. This scroll mark is usually very weak, and often has been partially worn down by the scabbard—this is a feature that helps in authenticating the sword. I have also seen one other Ames mark, which I've seen repeatedly, but only on M1860 cavalry sabers dated 1864. The mark is shaped like an arc with the words Ames Mfg. Co/Chicopee,/Mass.
Finally, I am including pictures of the M1905 experimental saber and the M1906 Cavalry saber. I have twice seen the M1906 sold as a Civil War piece after the date was removed, so let the buyer beware! The M1905 and M1906 are the only models with a flaming bomb on the ricasso, and the company mark abbreviated to A.S.Co./bomb/1906. The mark is deep, and shouldn’t be worn off.
www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/9160304848/in/p...