Produced in line with the regulation pattern for the U.S. 1840 Heavy Cavalry Sword, aka The Wristbreaker, this sword is free of military inspector marks, suggesting a private purchase weapon. The finish of the blade, traditionally left in-the-white on Army weapons, is a dual layer plating, with a layer of copper applied directly to the naked steel, and a layer of nickel over the copper; this finish would provide superior corrosion resistance, and was sometimes seen as a special order feature on weapons privately purchased by naval officers and commercial sailors. Measuring 41 inches overall, the 35 1/2 inch curved double-fuller blade is marked with the two-line Philadelphia address on the left ricasso. Silver finished 2-branch brass guard, with a helmet style pommel and a wire and leather wrapped grip. With a nickel finished scabbard, marked "3" on the drag.

Very good. The blade shows 95% of the nickel plated finish, with brown steel visible at the tip and exposed copper at the ricasso and in a few spots and streaks. Traces of the original silver remain on the hilt, with the knuckle guard and branches dented slightly to the left, and the grip retains a few turns of the otherwise absent wire, with a few chips and dings. Scabbard is good, with some spotting, dents and flaking.