The right side of the scabbard is inscribed "Presented by the Members & Friends of the/MERCANTILE LIBRARY ASSN/of Boston/To Capt. Spencer W. Richardson/Co. E/44th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers raised under/the auspices of the Association." The association ran a subscription library and hosted lecture series which included notable figures such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry Ward Beecher among many others. Spencer Welles Richardson enlisted in the 44th Massachusetts Militia for nine months as captain of Company E in August 1862. The regiment served with the 18th Corps in the Department of North Carolina and mustered out in June 1863. They saw light action in the war and suffered only 11 casualties. Richardson was reported to have been shot twice in the arm while leading his men during the Battle of Washington in April 1863. The scabbard also has a pair of goats holding the upper two suspension rings, a bestial ornament just below, bald eagle accent by the lower ring, laurel accent further down, a profile of Athena on an accent down near the drag, and scrollwork drag. The body of the scabbard is silver plated and has a stand of arms up top, the inscription surrounded by scrollwork, a representation of Columbia, and additional scrollwork. The sword has a 31 inch lightly curved blade with floral, geometric, and patriotic etching along most of the length on both sides, "12" marked on the base of the spine, and "BALL, BLACK/&Co/N.Y." etched above the left ricasso which is stamped "COLLINS & CO/HARTFORD/CONN." The hilt has a silver plated guard and pommel with a lion head on the finial, female face on the pommel with snakes coming down from her blowing hair and wrapping around her neck (Medusa or one of her Gorgonian sisters), and floral scrollwork. The grip is brass wire wrapped shark skin.

Fine with aged patina on the silver, light gray patina and some spots of minor pitting along the blade, light scratches and marks throughout, refixed laurels on the scabbard, and general mild handling and storage wear. The sword is a correct Ball, Black & Co. replacement for the presentation scabbard. Overall a very attractive presentation scabbard with interesting historical inscription and a highly attractive sword.