New Made Item: Model 1832 Foot Artillery Sword was a 25-inch (64 cm) shortsword with a straight, double-edged blade and brass-mounted leather scabbard. Adopted by the United States in 1832 for use by Artillery Units this style of short sword, sometimes referred to as a Roman Gladius, had been used by many European Nations from 1770 onwards. Each varied slightly in markings and detail design but was accepted as the best short sword and tool with which to equip Artillerymen of the period.

This examples shows the American Eagle embossed into the solid all brass pommel hilt while the high carbon steel double edged blade is marked with a U.S. Eagle and 1841 over WS. Every Short Sword comes in an all leather brass mounted scabbard with goal post fitting frog catch.

A very well made attractive sword from U.S. Military History ideal for Reenactment or Display.

History of the Model 1832 Foot Artillery Sword-

The U.S. Model 1832 foot artillery shortsword has a 6-inch (15 cm) solid brass hilt, a 4-inch (10 cm) crossguard, and a blade usually 19 inches (48 cm) in length. This model was the first sword contracted by the U.S. with the Ames Manufacturing Company. of Springfield (later Chicopee), Massachusetts, with production starting in 1832. In later years, it was also imported and supplied by W.H. Horstmann & Sons of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a personal side arm, it was intended for use by the regular or foot artillery regiments of the United States Army and remained in service until 1872 for use of foot artillerymen. It was the issue sword for sergeants and musicians of infantry regiments from 1832 until 1840. As most artillery regiments were trained and equipped as infantry prior to 1861 a single weapon for both types of troops made sense. It replaced the earlier Starr pattern sword used throughout the 1820s. While the design was impractical for actual combat, it is believed that artillerymen put this weapon to other uses, such as clearing brush or creating trails. It was an effective tool for cutting paths through the Florida swamps during the Second Seminole War, which occurred during the time it was issued to infantry sergeants, drummers and fifers. This is somewhat corroborated by the French nickname for their version of the sword, coupe choux (cabbage cutter). The last Ames contract for this sword was completed in 1862, although as a stock item it continued to be listed in company catalogs for decades afterwards.

The design was based on the French foot artillery short sword of 1816, which with minor changes was basically repeated in 1831. The French model was based on the Roman gladius, the standard sword of the Roman legionaries.

Specifications-

Overall Length: 25

Blade Length: 19.5

Weight: 4 lbs