Manufactured circa 1862. The sword has a 31 1/2 inch single fuller blade acid etched and dry needle engraved with "US" and military motifs and floral sprays. The Ames trademark is etched on the obverse ricasso of the blade and stamped on the brass upper suspension band of the scabbard. The brass hilt has a single branch guard with pierced floral decorations, pommel with cast ancathas leaves on the back and rayskin grip wrapped with a double strand of brass wire. The black leather scabbard has two suspension rings mounted on wide brass bands and a brass drag. The Model 1872 Officer's saber has a narrow curved 33 inch single fuller blade with acid etched U.S. Eagle and Shield surrounded by floral sprays on the obverse and an interlinked "US" surrounded by floral sprays on the reverse. The ricassos are stamped with a France import stamp, a round gold proofmark and a New York importer's mark. The gold plated brass hilt generally conforms to the Model 1872 Officers Saber pattern with three branch cast guard and ray skin grip wrapped with a double strand of brass wire. The scabbard has a nickel plated body with cast brass gold plated throat, suspension bands and drag.

The Model 1850 Foot Officers Sword is fair-good. The blade has a silver gray patina with scattered spots of age discoloration and several nicks in the edge. The hilt is good. The brass pommel and guard have scattered age discoloration and minor handling marks. The grip is intact with moderate handling wear; the wire wrap is original and complete. The scabbard is good overall with smooth leather. The drag has numerous small dents and the edges have been altered. This is a good example of a regulation Civil War Ames Model 1850 Foot officers Sword that shows typical service wear. The Model 1872 Style Saber is very good overall. The blade retains 85% of the plated finish with sharp engraving. There is some scattered age spotting near the tip. The hilt retains about 60% of the gold plated finish and is very good. The rayskin grip is complete and the wire wrap is tight. The scabbard is very good retaining most of the original nickel plated finish.