Civil War Era US Model 1840 Noncommissioned Officer Sword

After the last couple of militia style swords, it’s nice to move on to something with better documentation!

The 1840 Noncommissioned Officer’s Sword was adopted after the War Department made a study of similar swords in use in France and Britain. Although mainly a badge of rank by the Civil War, the Model 1840 was made to be a functional weapon. It would first see service in the Mexican War, with large numbers produced for the Civil War. Although officially dropped from use in 1875, the weapon remained in Army inventory through the Spanish American War.

The 32 inch blade is single edged with a broad fuller running almost the entire length. At the base of the blade is a stamped scroll with the partly illegible inscription “Made by AMES Mfg Co CHICOPEE MASS.” I believe Ames used this scroll mark from the late 1850s through the Civil War. The other side is marked “US” over “JH” over a year. The year is too pitted to be sure of, but I believe it’s 1860. If I’m right about the year, JH was the government arms inspector Joseph Hannis.

The hilt is brass with imitation wire wrapped grip stamped out of brass. The middle of the knuckle guard has a small stamp in script that I think is “W.A.T.” for William Anderson Thornton, an inspector from 1840 to 1861.