A rare example of one of 500 Pattern of 1852 Naval Officer's Swords purchased by the Navy Board of Commissioners from the N.P. Ames Co., in 1852 to outfit the 487 officers on the Navy Register. The sword has a slightly curved, 27 1/2 inch, blade with eight-inch false edge and two fullers. The obverse of the blade is decorated with acid etched and dry wire engraved floral decorations, a circle of stars, fouled anchor and shield and stand of arms and colors. The reverse is etched with floral decorations intertwined with a running line, "USN" in a banner, a fouled anchor and an eagle with half sunburst atop a naval cannon. "AMES MFG./CHICOPEE, MASS." is etched on the obverse ricasso. The reverse ricasso is stamped with a "P" proofmark over the initials "R.B.H." (inspecting officer Robert B. Hancock U.S.N.). The date of inspection "1852" is stamped on the obverse. The sword has fish skin grip wrapped with twisted brass wire and a gilded brass hilt. The Phrygian pattern pommel top features a cast eagle surrounded by thirteen stars in relief. The knuckle-bow is decorated with a dolphin head at the junction with the pommel and the single branch guard features a spray of oak leaves with a ribbon bearing the raised letters "USN". The quillion terminates above the blade in a dolphin head. The 500 Pattern 1852 Naval Officer's Swords purchased from Ames in 1852 were the only inspected and dated officer's swords ever purchased by the U.S. Navy. Surviving examples are scarce in any condition.

Very fine. The blade is in very fine overall condition. Wear is limited to a few very minor spots of surface discoloration on the ricasso near the leather washer and on the tip of the blade above the engraving. The engraving and decoration on the reverse of the blade shows very little wear and remains in excellent condition. The engraving and decoration on the opposite side of the blade has faded slightly but remains in very fine condition. The gold-plated hilt is in excellent condition and retains 95% of the original gold-plated finish. The fish skin grip and twisted wire wrap are all original and in excellent condition. The sword is missing the scabbard. This is a very fine example of a rare and historically significant U.S. Contract Ames Model 1852 Naval Officer's Sword.