Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent service-worn example of the distinctive U.S. Model 1832 Foot Artillery short sword, popularly nicknamed “America’s Gladius” because of its obvious resemblance to the ancient Roman short sword. Manufactured by N.P. Ames of Springfield, Massachusetts and dated 1835, this early federal-contract example retains its original blade markings, brass hilt, and a particularly desirable combination of U.S. Ordnance inspection stamps.

The Model 1832 was built around a heavy, straight, double-edged steel blade modeled closely on the French Model 1816 foot artillery sword. This example has the characteristic fuller arrangement, with two narrow parallel fullers beginning near the hilt and a broader central fuller continuing toward the spear-shaped point.

The blade measures approximately 19¼ inches long. The blade is faintly stamped on the reverse, near the hilt:

UNITED
STATES
1835

On the obverse, near the hilt stamped under an American Eagle, is:

N. P. AMES
SPRINGFIELD

The crossguard also bears an HKC and ORD cartouche on the crossguard, H.K.C. being the initials of Major Henry Knox Craig. Craig inspected Ames 1832 pattern short swords and Ames 1833 pattern dragoon sabers, all before his transfer to Allegheny Arsenal in September 1838. The 1835 date puts it in the correct timeslot for issue during both the Seminole Wars in Florida and the Mexican-American War, then likely reused during the Civil War. There is also a J.M. stamp, for Justin Murphy, a civilian ordnance sub-inspector who evaluated military weapons for the United States government during the 1830s and 1840s.

The grips have been molded in a scalloped eagle feather design. Three transverse iron rivets secure it to the tang of the blade. The pommel is decorated on each side with a heavily incised American eagle, with shield, holding arrows in his left talon and an olive branch in his right talon. The eagle's head faces towards its right. The straight cross quillons terminate in disk shaped finials, which are in great shape. Overall the grip has a lovely aged patina, with no signs of aggressive cleaning.

The blade on this example looks to have seen long service and some past oxidation, but it’s overall in great worn condition. There are some nicks on the edge of the blade, so it definitely did see some level of use in service. The blade is still tight to the hilt with no wobble, and is an excellent overall example of this incredibly scarce sword, now 191 years old!

The U.S. Model 1832 Foot Artillery Sword was the first major sword pattern manufactured under federal contract by the Ames firm. Production began in the early 1830s, and the pattern remained in government inventories for many years. Its approximately 19-inch double-edged blade, heavy brass hilt, and compact overall length made it immediately distinctive among American military edged weapons.

The design was derived closely from the French Model 1816 foot artillery short sword, itself inspired by the Roman gladius. American versions are readily distinguished by their cast eagle-decorated brass hilts and federal maker and inspection markings. The French pattern and the American copy both earned reputations as heavy multipurpose sidearms, and period users are often credited with employing them for practical camp and field tasks as well as their intended military role.

The Model 1832 was associated particularly with foot artillery, although examples were also issued during the 1830s to certain infantry sergeants, musicians, and other enlisted personnel. The pattern remained in U.S. service through the decades encompassing the Second Seminole War, Mexican-American War, and American Civil War.

Because this sword is dated 1835, it was manufactured before all three of those conflicts and was certainly of a pattern still available for military service during them.

What makes this example especially compelling is the strength of its surviving documentary markings. The UNITED STATES / 1835 blade date, N.P. AMES / SPRINGFIELD maker stamp, and H.K.C. / ORD / J.M. inspection marks closely parallel a museum-documented 1835 Ames example and firmly place it within the early federal production of the Model 1832. Combined with its untouched brass patina, tight hilt, characteristic three-fullered blade, and honest service wear, it is an excellent surviving example of one of the most recognizable American military swords of the antebellum period.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 19 1/4"
Blade Style: Double Edged "Gladius" style
Overall length: 25 1/4“
Crossguard: 4 1/4”