High quality militia officer's sword manufactured by N. P. Ames of Chicopee, Massachusetts, c. 1840. The sword has a 31-inch straight double edged blade with single fuller and bright etched panels with dry needle engraving. "Ames Mfg. Co./Chicopee/Mass" is engraved in an oval on the obverse ricasso. The obverse of the blade is etched with a stand of arms surrounded by floral sprays. The reverse is etched with floral sprays flanking a panoply of arms and an eagle and shield with "E/Pluribus/Unum" in a ribbon on a sunburst background. The gold plated brass hilt has a cast eagle pommel with double chain gold guard, reeded bone grip and cruciform cross guards with rectangular langets. The cross guards have relief cast images of a spread eagle with laurel leaves above military trophies and acanthus leaves and a Phrygian cap and a Phrygian cap surrounded by swords and spears. The back of the gold plated brass scabbard is stamped "AMES MFG. Co./CHICOPEE/MASS" in three lines between the throat and the upper band. The scabbard has a cast foliate shaped drag and two cast suspension bands with three rings. The upper band features a cast Federal shield above a laurel wreath surrounded by floral sprays.

Very fine. The tip of the otherwise fine blade has some age discoloration and very light pitting. The frosted panel surrounding the etching has faded but the etching and engraving remain clear. The hilt retains 70% of the original gold plated finish. The bone grip has is slighted yellowed and has some minor discoloration but remains very fine. The brass scabbard is fine overall with some shallow dents and retains 75% of the original gold-plated finish. This is a highly desirable example of a high quality Mexican War era militia officer's sword manufactured by the most desirable American sword maker, Ames.