Completed in June of 1986 by the incredibly talented craftsman Joseph G. Mintjal (1930-2022), this is an outstanding and extremely detailed scale model of one of the most legendary ships of the U.S. Navy, the USS Constitution, which remains the oldest commissioned warship in the world. The Constitution was lovingly nicknamed "Old Ironsides" due to her extremely heavy hull, constructed in part using the extremely dense wood of the live oak for part of its thick planking, which helped it to repel cannonballs from enemy ships. The ship was originally built as part of the fleet authorized by the Naval Act of 1794, which authorized the construction of the "original six" frigates of the American navy. The design of the Constitution, as well as the other five frigates, came from Joshua Humphreys, who realized that the ships of the fledgling U.S. Navy needed to be powerful to outclass European frigates, while also being fast enough to outrun the ships of the line which America lacked. The Constitution took part in the Quasi War and the First Barbary. War During the War of 1812, the Constitution engaged with and sunk four British ships, including three merchantmen and the HMS Guerriere, which is reportedly the action where she gained her nickname. After her career as an active warship ended, the Constitution went on to serve the United States Naval Academy for each class of midshipmen's summer training cruise, and it remained a commissioned warship of the U.S. Navy. After her re-designation as a training ship, the Constitution received a round of modernizations giving her a host of modern facilities. In 1878, the ship was used to transport displays for the Paris Exhibition. During the 1930s, the Constitution went on a tour from Bar Harbor, Maine, down through the Panama Canal, and up the Pacific coast to Bellingham, Washington, over the course of three years. The ship was once again overhauled in hopes to be used in the United States Centennial festivities; however, delays caused the repairs to take much longer than expected. The ship underwent its most extensive reconstruction in 1995 to repair the issues caused by the oldest pieces of timber rotting and return the ship to its 1812 configuration. For the bicentennial of the ship's completion, the Constitution was towed into Boston Harbor, where it sailed under it's own power and gave a 21 gun salute to Fort Independence. Today the ship is used as a museum to teach visitors about the Navy's role in the United States Armed Forces. This model was painstakingly crafted and appears to be made from almost entirely hand-carved wood and is most certainly of museum-quality and specifications. The included glass display case which contains the model measures approximately 15 x 40 3/4 x 32 inches.

Excellent, the model of the USS Constitution itself remains in incredible condition with very minimal handling and storage evidence, including to the delicate and detailed rigging. The display case is also excellent with some very light handling/storage evidence. This model of one of the U.S. Navy's most legendary warships would make an outstanding and eye-catching display piece for your office, study, or antique arms collection room!