The cup shaped guard of the Model 1860 Naval Cutlass is boldly inscribed in jeweler script with: "To Andrew Theodore Long/Presented at the/Army & Navy/Foot Ball Dinner/Dec. 2nd 1899/given at the Rittenhouse Club by/Dr. Robert LeConte - William Gaw/Wm. Bodine - Clarence R. Lewis/C. Leland Harrison - John B. Lennig/Eugene Townsend - Charles Platt Jr./Arthur Howe - Paul D. Mills." The right side of the blade has an anchor and "1861", and the left side has "AMES MFg. Co./CHICOPEE/MASS". The inside of the guard is marked "M/625". The Army-Navy Football Game between the teams of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point "Cadets" and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis "Middies" goes back to 1890. The 1899 match was played at Franklin Field in Philadelphia and won by the West Point team with a score of 17-5 in an upset over the Naval Academy. The game ended in dramatic fashion with a goal by Ward Wortman preventing the Middies from suffering an embarrassing shut out just seconds before the end of the game. The Boston Evening Transcript from the day of the game underscored both the popularity of the game and the expected winner by announcing in the sub headline "West Point Team Not as Strong as Annapolis" and noting "Washington almost deserted" due to the number of people attending the game. Andrew T. Long graduated from the Naval Academy in 1887. He has a long career with the Navy and reached the rank of rear admiral on September 15, 1918. He served during the Spanish American War, Philippine-American War, and First World War. The year after the sword was presented, Long was bound for China with the U.S. Navy to help quell the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901). Perhaps Long's presentation cutlass was a symbolic recognition of his heading into troubled waters. The Rittenhouse Club was a "Social Art Club" founded as a meeting place for Philadelphia's elite and no doubt hosted a dinner to celebrate the big game. The presenters of the sword were among the cities "luminaries." Dr. LeConte, for example, was a leading physician. In 1922, Long was in command of American Naval Forces in European waters. He was also Director of the Office of Naval Intelligence and a member of the Navy's General Board. Theodore Roosevelt was among his close friends, and Long was part of the famous Great White Fleet sent by Roosevelt to sail around the world to demonstrate American Naval power in 1907-1908. He is credited with helping to draft sections of the Treaty of Versailles after WWI while serving as a Naval attache in Paris.

Fair. The blade has a dark gray patina and extensive light pitting overall. The brass has an aged patina and distinct inscription. The grip is heavily deteriorated, mostly worn smooth. No scabbard.