Anyone know anything about old military swords?

[Junglepeanut]

My Father in Law is near impossible to buy for but he does love old military/unique/oddball things. I happened to stumble across this sword on a Goodwill site of all places but know nothing about them. It looked close enough to legit i jumped on it and was cheap enough i dont mind eating it if its fake. I dont have it in my hands yet but anyone know this particular sword? AMES 1906 Calvary...... Was it something that was heavily copied? Any tells to look for? Would appreciate any direction/input. These are some of the pics from online. I can inspect/post more in a couple days when i have it

[Axel]

Ames was a primary supplier to the US military through much of the 19th century. By 1906 they weren't slashing each other from horseback with cavalry sabers any more but it's still a nice piece

From what you've posted it looks more or less identical to the swords they produced from the 1840's and through the Civil War, other than the markings. It would have been standard issue to cavalry troopers and field officers in the other branches. I want to say that traditional cavalry still existed until right up to WWI so maybe somebody carried it with Blackjack Pershing chasing Pancho Villa around Texas and Mexico

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ames...turing_Company


I'm no expert but yours looks quite similar to one from the 1840's that my dad has (found in my great grandparents' house after they passed with no explanation). They're not especially valuable as I understand so I doubt anyone would go to the trouble to make a copy that looks as good as that

Ours had the last 6-7 inches or so bent and snapped off; probably to make someone a knife, we figure

[Junglepeanut]

Thank you for the info, that would match i have read so far. I guess these were almost identical to civil war swords they made but were replaced by a more modern style sword shortly after they were released

[Axel]

No problem. My great grandmother's grandfather was a private in the Penna. volunteers from about the siege of Petersburg through the end of the war, and she had some of his papers, so guessing it was a trophy of his. Anyway it's the only reason I've heard of Ames Co. and did a little digging

[Junglepeanut]

That is an amazing pic.... Great to know the history behind things

[fullofpaint]

Random Fun Fact: These were made down the street from where I grew up. My parents actually almost bought a condo in the building haha.

[Junglepeanut]

From sword making to condos...... thats cool

[bored383]

another random fact - the USN kept cutlasses in the inventory on some ships past WW2

[Junglepeanut]

I would have made a terrible pirate. A sword fight is really low on my list of things to do but a sword fight on a boat just sounds nightmarish.