Offered here is an extra fancy Ames militia officer’s presentation sword that was presented to the Connecticut Governor’s Horse Guard Major-Commander and adversary of Colonel Samuel Colt, Henry Boardman. The sword measures 38 ¾ inches in overall length and has a 31 inch straight double edged single fuller blade, that is decorated with elaborate patriotic, martial and scroll motifs over three-quarters of the length. The Chicopee address is on the right side just above the ricasso. The hilt is of gilt copper construction and has a downturned languet on the right side, Templar-style dual quillion crossguard accented with finely carved scroll accents, double chain knuckle guard, finely sculpted pommel depicting a soldier in a crested helmet with sphinx themed accents (possibly French), and fine octagonal grip featuring alternating panels of leaf engraved gilt brass and mother of pearl with 7 gilt bead accents. The brass scabbard is gold finished from throat to drag, the Ames address is signed on the back. The front is adorned with a variety of patriotic and martial motifs, including liberty caps, American eagles, stands of flags, fasces and arrays of spears and arrows. A raised oak leaf accent is near the tip, and fine scroll sculpting is on the drag and suspension rings. In between the bands is the inscription "Presented to/Major Henry Boardman/by the Officers and Members of the 1st. Co./GOVERNOR'S HORSE GUARDS,/Hartford, Conn. June 1st 1860." Connecticut militia officer Major Henry Boardman was appointed commander of the First Company, Governor's Horse Guards in 1845. The Governor's Guards, in particular the First Company of Foot Guards, holds the distinction of being the American military formation with the longest period of unbroken and unaltered service, being formed shortly before the American Revolution and active to the modern day. The First Horse Guard, assembled in 1778, was originally intended to provide defense and mounted escort for the governor before evolving into a general purpose honor guard, which included performing security for multiple American presidents traveling through Connecticut. During its tenure the 1st was called to federal duty on multiple occasions, acting as a cavalry unit on the Southern border during the unpleasantness with Pancho Villa, a machine gun unit with the 26th "Yankee Division" in France for World War I (seeing action at Meuse-Argonne and Saint-Mihel), and as a coastal artillery unit for World War II, all while veteran elements of the unit continued to perform home guard duty. While not directly federalized for the Civil War, the 1st (during Boardman's tenure as commander) provided a number of men for what was supposed to be the 1st Connecticut Cavalry Squadron but ended up being a consolidated cavalry unit designated the 2nd New York Cavalry, aka the Harris Light Cavalry, aka the 7th Volunteer Cavalry, in addition to contributing men to the 1st Connecticut Volunteer Cavalry Regiment; this scrambling of men, units, enlistment times and states (which was counted entirely as a New York unit for quota purposes, with no records sent to the Connecticut adjutant) has left something of a mess, and few firm records of the 1st Guard's actions in the Civil War survive. In addition to their national service, the First under Boardman was involved in a humorous incident with one Colonel Samuel Colt. As an inventor and marketer of arms Colonel Colt requires no introduction; his name is virtually synonymous with American firearms, but less known is his brief tenure as commander of the "First Company of the Governor's Horse Guard" in 1853. Boardman's First Horse Guard, which had not had cause to parade or ride for a number of years, was inadvertently forgotten, and when a call was put out for a cavalry unit Colt was tapped to form up a whole new unit instead of sending word to Boardman. Eager to maintain his position (and no doubt feeling some outrage at the indignity of the whole situation), Boardman mustered, reorganized and expanded his own First Company of the Governor's Horse Guard as fast as he could manage and marched them opposite Colt's First Company of the Governor's Horse Guard in the streets of Hartford. Called before the governor to settle the matter, accounts of the meeting suggest that Boardman and Colt nearly came to blows over the incident, but the matter was settled without a physical struggle. Boardman's unit retained their title, and Colt's formation became Cavalry Company A, First Regiment, First Brigade.

Very fine. The blade shows some light spotting, with strong etching and fine bright color overall. The hilt is also very fine, with 85% plus original gilt finish, showing well aged brass on the high edges, a few areas of dark patina in the lower sections, and a few natural shallow age cracks in the mother of pearl panels, which are otherwise solid and showing attractive color. The pommel is solid, with a small amount of play in the grip and guard. The scabbard is fine, with a few minor dings and an overall appearance very similar to the hilt.