Civil War era United States medical staff sword, 1850-1880
Description:
Brass-handled steel sword in brass scabbard. Scabbard has three areas of detailing on front with a flower and leaf motif, and no detailing on back side. There are three brass loops on scabbard, presumably for attaching sword to belt of a uniform. Tip of scabbard has an acorn design. Hilt of sword has significant detail. Pommel has image of eagle and acanthus leaves on front and simple oval and leaves on back side. At end of pommel is a brass acorn design. The guard of the sword is curved on both sides and has shield in center. Shield is framed with leaves and has "M S" above thirteen stars in relief. Back side of shield has no detailing. Ricasso has no detailing. Back side of blade directly above ricasso reads "Ames Mfg Co. Chicopee Mass". Two-thirds of blade is detailed, with last third to tip plain. Front side of blade has three sections of winding leaves detail and "U.S. Medical Staff" surrounded by four stars on left side and five stars on right side. Back side of sword has four areas detailing.
The Harvard Medical Library does not hold copyright on all the materials in the collection. For use information, contact the Warren Anatomical Museum Curator at chm@hms.harvard.edu
Contact host institution for more information.
Notes:
This U. S. Medical Staff sword was created by the Ames Manufacturing Company in Chicopee, Massachusetts between 1850 and 1880. The sword was found in the collections of the Warren Anatomical Museum.
