1840 Medical Staff Officer Sword

[SARGE]

Gents,

 

I picked up a nice Model 1840 US Medical Staff Officer Sword at the Wichita Militaria Show over the weekend that I thought I would show. These are hard to find, especially with un-dented brass scabbards as the brass is prone to dents.

 

This sword was made by Weyersberg in Solingen Germany for the American market and has his crowned king hallmark on the ricasso of the blade. The blade is the early heavy oval style with typical German etching of a US eagle on one side (with his feet toward the hilt in the German etching manner) and "U.S.M.S." on the other. The brass hilt is very well executed with much detail including the brazed silver letters "MS" on the obverse langet. The scabbard is un-dented and has highly detailed fittings that are brazed to the brass body. Considerable gilt remains on the sword.

 

These swords are rather scarce due to the small number of military surgeons in the Army prior to the Civil War. Also, many of the CW surgeons were contract surgeons as opposed to regular Army Staff Officers.

 

 

[BEAST]

Very nice!

[sundance]

Congrats you lucky guy. Beautiful! They are few and far between and the prices certainly reflect that. I hope one day I'll run into one I can afford.

[mikedon]

Very impressive!

I have a lot of Civil War swords but I was never was able to aquire a Medical Staff Officers Sword.

[mdk0911]

very nice sword - a beauty - well done

[gunbarrel]

Way-to-go, Sarge!

[SARGE]

Thanks for the kudos gentlemen. What I really need now is the almost identical Pay Department sword with "PD" on the langet and blade. I suspect I will continue to search the tables at militaria shows for that one. Oh well... it gives me something to do.