Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. The M-1906 U.S. Cavalry saber is almost exactly like its forefather, the M-1860 Cavalry Saber, used throughout the Civil War and on America's frontier during the Indian Wars. It was the last curved saber model produced for Cavalry, as with the evolution of vehicular transport horses were to become a thing of the past militarily after WWI. A straight Cavalry Sword, known as the "Patton" sword was introduced in 1913 but this new style, frankly, lost all the magic of the original curved blade design.
The M-1906 differed from the M-1860 in that the hilt was made from steel and not brass, otherwise they are nearly identical. This was the saber used in the Mexican Border Wars that lasted on and off from 1910 until 1919, during which the Mexican Rebel Leader Pancho Villa actually invaded the U.S. and attacked a U.S. Army Post in Columbus, New Mexico. Thereafter the U.S. Government took a sterner hand and sent Pershing in short order to settle the business once and for all.
The sword came to us out of a private collection, and comes complete with the original all steel scabbard, and the blade bears manufacturers markings on the ricasso:
1906
A. S. Co. is the abbreviation for Ames Sword Company of Chicopee, Massachusetts, one of the largest independent producers of swords for the U.S. Military since the Civil War. They had made large numbers of the model 1860 Cavalry Saber. The reverse ricasso is marked U.S / J.H.C., for the inspector at Ames at that time. We unfortunately have not been able to determine this person's name.
The blade on this example is in very good condition, with a nice patina, with no edge nicks or other damage from use, just staining from age and cleaning. These blades were seldom used in combat, and were almost ceremonial, even right after they were approved. There are some areas of staining and light peppering, but nothing major. The hilt has a nice browned patina, with no pitting or major rust issues.
The scabbard is in very good shape, with a few small dents we can see, and a wonderful worn patina. The leather grip is in good shape, with some cracking, and still has the original wire wrapping, thought it is a bit loose. Some of the leather has flaked off near the bottom of the grip, but it does not detract much overall from the piece.
There is a small plastic label tag on the sword, put there by the previous owner. It indicates that this sword was one of 18,961 examples delivered to the Ordnance Dept on Dec 31, 1906. However this also indicates that it was made by Ames in Kalamazoo Michigan, which is incorrect. The Henderson-Ames company was located in Kalamazoo, but they used a different maker label, and did not have a contract for these swords.
In lovely condition ready to display, a cavalry saber from the Mexican Wars Era!
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