M1840 Light Artillery Saber for Conn Militia

2,627 · November 20, 2017

I picked up an enlisted Ames Model 1840 Light Artillery saber over the weekend that has some interesting features. This sword came from an old collection and was picked up locally by the collector years ago. After some good natured dickering we came to a price point and we both walked away happy.

This sword is a standard Ames manufacture Horse Artillery saber and is identical to another Ames Artillery that is dated one year later than this one that I have in my collection. This sword has the Ames Manufacturing Company, Chickopee, Mass marking in a scroll stamped on the reverse ricasso in the usual manner. It is dated "1862" on the obverse ricasso and above the date is stamped "CONN." indicating use by the Connecticut Militia during the US Civil War. The obverse guard is stamped "40" as is the obverse throat of the scabbard. Both number stamps are from the same die. The sword has an undented browned steel scabbard but I am unsure if this is the original finish or a brown patina that has 100% coverage over an originally bright finished scabbard. The scabbard on the other 1863 dated Artillery saber is in the white so this scabbard may have started out life bright finished as well.

The interesting thing about this Conn. Militia sword is that is bears no inspection markings, while my 1863 dated Federal Artillery saber is inspector marked on the blade, guard, pommel and scabbard drag. There are no inspector markings on my new Conn. Militia saber. This makes sense as Federal Contract swords had to be inspected before acceptance while State Militia contracts did not need to be inspected by Federal inspectors. For instance, I have a New Jersey contract Colt special rifle that has no Federal inspector initials on the gun, only "N.J." markings where the Federal inspector stamps would normally appear on a rifle that was sold to the Federal Government.

There cannot have been too many Horse Artillery batteries in the Connecticut Militia during the Civil War and the low weapon number of "40" seems to support this.