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SCARCE AMES U. S. MODEL 1833 DRAGOON SABER SWORD 1837 DATED EXCELLENT UNTOUCHED
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SCARCE AMES U. S. MODEL 1833 DRAGOON SABER SWORD 1837 DATED EXCELLENT UNTOUCHED
Price: US $1472.00

Presented for thecollector of U. S. martial swords is this excellent specimen of the most elegant of all U. S. swords - the Model 1833 Dragoon Saber. This saber originated from a very old collection begun in the 1950\'s. It is in untouched, uncleaned, as-found condition with a great patina. The Model 1833 Dragoon Saber traces its roots to the British Pattern 1821/22 Light Cavalry Saber and is nearly identical to it. The only readily noticeable differences include the spanner nut used to secure the tang in the hilt and the employment of a brass hilt as opposed to the steel hilt of the British Pattern 1821/22. Nathan P. Ames, a name renowned among collectors of American edged weapons, secured the contract for the 1833 Dragoon Saber. It was one of his very first contracts among many in supplying the U. S. Government with the tools of war. Interestingly, he beat out Nathan Starr who had been the \"go to\" American militarysword-maker for nearly 40 years!

Ames produced a total of 6,100 enlisted dragoon sabers from 1834 to 1839. They were used by the regular establishment and were sometimes distributed tomilitia formations as a function of the Militia Act of 1808. I won\'t go into an exhaustive history, but I will state that the First and Second U. S. Regiments of Dragoons, raised in 1833 and 1836 respectively, got around! Their principal assignments included duty at such remote (at least then) frontier outposts such as Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and Fort Jesup, Louisiana. They campaigned across the west and deep south protecting the frontier borders and battling indigenous peoples branded as \"hostiles.\"

It is extremely difficult to find a \'33 Dragoon in nice shape. This is easily explained. Consider the fact that 10 years of hard frontier service must be taken into account in addition to the Mexican War where the dragoon regiments factored prominently. Throw another 10+ years of frontier duty into the mix, and, finally,one must consider the Civil War. The events in the timeline from 1834 to 1865 wrought havoc on the surviving, serviceable numbers of \'33 Dragoon sabers.Four factors must be considered when examining a \'33 Dragoonsaber. First, the grip covering and wire is usually corrupted or entirely missing from most extant specimens. Second, hilt alignment is another common problem. The \'33 Dragoon hilts were rather dainty when comparedtolater models of U. S. mounted sabers and bent rather easily. Third, the scabbard rings were of the \"split ring\" design not unlike a modern key ring. Thus, they could be easily removed. Fourth, the overall condition, especially theblade and etching, must be assessed. I\'mvery pleased to enumerate that this specimen passes all of these examination points admirably.

This specimen presents a nice, \"in the black,\" untouched appearance. The spanner nut on the hilt has never been turned. The all-important grip wrap is completely intact. There issome minor scaling, but nothing unreasonable or obtrusive. The spirally wound grip wire (unique to the \'33 Dragoon) ispresent and tight. The hilt retains its original, graceful shape and lines. There is a very minor bend on the interior counterguard. The hilt is fully inspected with the initials \"T. W.\" (Thomas Warner) appearing on the quillon. The initials \"H. K. C.\" (Henry Knox Craig) and the \"ORD\" Ordnance Department stamp appear on the back of the quillon. The original buff washer is present and the etching \"United States\" and \"N. P. AMES CUTLER SPRINGFIELD 1837\" are clearly visible on either side of the ricasso. The blade bears the inspector\'s stamp of \"J. M.\" (Justin Murphy). The 34-inch, \"pipe back\" blade is exceptionally fine with a smooth gray appearance and a little pitting on one side near the tip. The edge is free from any damage or nicks. The scabbardpresents a smooth, dark brown appearance with some random, raised rust. The throat and both original throat screws are present as are both original scabbard rings. There are a couple of minor dings in the scabbard, but nothing obtrusive. The drag is in its original configuration and is clearly marked withthe final \"H.K. C.\"and \"ORD\" inspection marks. Thus, based on the \"ORD\" stamp, this sword was most certainly purchased by the Army and issued to a trooper of one of the Regiments of Dragoons in 1837. More so than any pattern of American sword,the average\'33 Dragoon likely saw service in multiple venues thatare highly romanticized in the present day. This sword could have chased Pawnees in Nebraska or it could havecharged withCaptain May at Resaca de la Palma. In its twilight years it could have been atBrandy Stationwith Custer or Stuart. Apocryphal sword collecting lore holds that the \'33 Dragoon was very popular with Confederate officers in the western theater. Such is the romance of antique arms. ThisModel 1833 Dragoon Saber would make a great addition to any collection of early American swords or U. S. martial edged weapons. Finding one in this untouched state with full wrap and wire is an uncommon treat.Uncommon material here.

! Please see my other listings for items which may interest you. Good luck!

NOTE: The shipping charges are reflective of USPS Priority Mail rates and additional packing materials. I will invoice only those shipping and insurance charges (if more than the basic $50 coverage rate is required) obtained from the USPS website with special expenses or previously discussed requests excepted. International buyers should contact me to discuss terms, insurance, and or viability of shipping to your country. Specialized packing materials, boxes, or other arrangements may cost more with large or oddly-sized items. Pleaseunderstand the extra cost and time involved if that is necessary.I will make the shippingas safe, secure, above board, and cheap as possible.

Contact: Communication is the operative act in any transaction. I will be more than happy to engage in a dialogue about a particular item before and after the close of the sale. Please ask any questions that might influence your offerding prior to the end of the sale. I will consider the item yours after you have won it. Please tender payment within 3 days of the close of the sale. I will, of course, send a reminder toward the end of that time. I will endeavor to answer any question promptly and accurately to the level of detail required for your satisfaction. I will also indulge additional photo requests if the posted photos do not illustrate a particular aspect ofthe item you are curious about. Rest assured that the photos and description accurately depict the item being saleed. What you see is what you get. The sooner I receive funds, the sooner your item leaves my hands!

Payment: Payment in full must be received within 3 days of the close of the sale.

Shipping: USPS Priority Mail is my \"service of choice.\" If you want something different let me know and I will attempt to accommodate you if I can. Oddly shaped items that do not fit into the standard Priority Mail boxes may be more or less expensive depending on weight. The beauty of Priority Mail is that it is a flat rate. Contact me at the close of the sale if you feel the need to choose another USPS service or carrier. Large items or items requiring a special box, packing, or freight charges will require a little more legwork on my part, but I will make every effort to get it to you as safely, quickly,and economically practical as possible and will promptly update you accordingly. I will combine shipping on multiple purchases when applicable.

Returns: Items are sold \"as is.\" In other words, I don\'t accept returns. If you aredissatisfied with the photographs or description, please ask any question you may have before the close of the sale. Please do not renege on the contract through a lack of communication. Again, I\'ll be more than happy at any time to indulge your questions about a particular item or aspect of condition. Please consult my response profile and you will see three trends: superlative packing,prompt service/communication, and accurate descriptions.

Thank you for yourbusiness and I look forward to serving you again!



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