Measuring 37 inches overall, this excellent sword is fitted with a 30 1/4 inch long curved double fuller blade etched with an American eagle on the right side, and "US" among leafy scrolls on the left above an etched New York merchant address near the ricasso. Though lacking a maker's mark, presentation swords from Schuyler, Hartley & Graham were typically outfitted with Solingen-made blades from Clauberg and other firms. The hilt is impressively cast and sculpted. The guard features an elaborate punched-through American eagle design between the counter-guard and branch, a deep leafy pattern on the quillion, nearly full coverage leaf work on the reverse branch and the knuckle guard (the latter bearing a "US" shield), and a gilt eagle ornament on the pommel. Cast from multiple pieces, the grip forms an intricate battle scene with the main body sculpted into a tree trunk and a pair of soldiers fighting it out, one standing tall with his regimental colors held high in his left hand and a drawn pistol in his right and the opposition sprawled on the ground and about to receive a bullet to the chest. Somewhat ironically considering the inscription, the man on the ground appears to have an open jacket of the style often associated with the zouaves. The scabbard is finished in silver and has a mixture of oak leaf and punched-through geometric patterns on the fittings, a grotesque head on the tip, leaf accents and a prominent "US" shield on the mid band and a sculpted scene on the upper band of two maidens holding aloft a laurel crown standing on either side of an inscription panel marked "PRES./TO/Capt. E.O.Jones/BY/U.V.Z./ Sept 1st, 1869". Records from the era indicate that E.O. Jones was Edward O. Jones, an enlisted man-turned-officer with the 146th New York Infantry Regiment. Originally formed as a standard infantry unit, the 146th re-equipped as zouaves when men from the 5th New York Volunteers (aka Duryee’s Zouaves) were integrated into the unit. The resulting amalgamation was also known as Garrard's Tigers. Mustering in 1862 on three-year contracts, the 146th was primarily a component of V Corps of the Army of the Potomac and saw action at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Gettysburg, and Appomattox Court House before mustering out in July of 1865. Jones himself mustered in as a 21 year old private at Utica in August of 1862 and was promoted to corporal in October and to sergeant by April of 1863. In March of 1865, he was breveted to the rank of captain followed by permanent promotions to first sergeant and second lieutenant in the same month and first lieutenant in June before mustering out with the company that July. After the war, he was a captain in the Union Veteran Zouaves, a state militia unit composed entirely of Civil War veterans that performed a number of ceremonial duties in the state, including serving honor guard detail during the establishment of war memorials and during prominent funerals. Included with the sword are photocopied excerpts from a vintage Schulyer sword catalog showing a similar hilt motif, a printed copy of a vintage photograph of the young Jones as a sergeant, a 1903 reunion medal featuring a picture of Captain Jones, and an image of a wartime 146th Regiment uniform. The included notes attribute the presentation as being made at a post-war (1869) reunion of the 146th Zouaves.

Very good. The blade shows a mixed gray and brown patina with mild spotting and a few light nicks along the edge. The scabbard shows a mixed patina with traces of translucent brown and "oil slick" colors that may be the result of an old protective coating. The hilt is very good with about half of the original gilt finish showing a well aged patina in the exposed areas, a few minor handling marks, and excellent detail with both of the soldiers solidly attached. An excellent New York presentation sword inscribed to a well-traveled zouave officer.