Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
	Civil War Weapons, all pre 1898
	by Harry Ridgeway

Cavalry saber, Model 1860, Ames, banner address, 1865. . The model 1860 saber was made slightly lighter than the model 1840 and was the primary saber of the Federal cavalry by the end of the war. Manufactured by Ames Manufacturing Company, Chicopee, Massachusetts. Marks: ricasso, MADE BY / AMES MFG CO. / CHICOPEE / MASS. (banner style), and US / (inspector) / 1865, additional inspector stamp on pommel and scabbard drag. Standard features include: wooden handle with a swell covered with leather and a wire grip, brass hilt has three branches, brass pommel cap and guard are unadorned, steel blade has flat back with narrow and wide fuller stopped at the ricasso, iron scabbard with iron mountings. Research Center: Weapon6610-Sword-Cavalry-Model-1860-Ames-1865-v1 . Reference: Thillmann Cav. & Arty. Sabers pg. 79. Blade length, 35 inches. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon6610-Sword-Cavalry-Model-1860-Ames-1865-v1.html

W0880 ### Cavalry saber, Model 1860, Ames, banner address, 1865. . The model 1860 saber was made slightly lighter than the model 1840 and was the primary saber of the Federal cavalry by the end of the war. Manufactured by Ames Manufacturing Company, Chicopee, Massachusetts. Marks: ricasso, MADE BY / AMES MFG CO. / CHICOPEE / MASS. (banner style), and US / (inspector) / 1865, additional inspector stamp on pommel and scabbard drag. Standard features include: wooden handle with a swell covered with leather and a wire grip, brass hilt has three branches, brass pommel cap and guard are unadorned, steel blade has flat back with narrow and wide fuller stopped at the ricasso, iron scabbard with iron mountings. Research Center: Weapon6610-Sword-Cavalry-Model-1860-Ames-1865-v1 . Reference: Thillmann Cav. & Arty. Sabers pg. 79. Blade length, 35 inches. Ames, 1865, banner address, inspected by ADK, additional inspector stamp on pommel and scabbard drag. Grip has leather wrap and wire intact, pommel cap has been hammered, leather washer is present but worn, scabbard intact shows remnant of nickel plating, throat is missing.

W1318 ### Cavalry saber, Model 1860, Ames, banner address, 1865. . The model 1860 saber was made slightly lighter than the model 1840 and was the primary saber of the Federal cavalry by the end of the war. Manufactured by Ames Manufacturing Company, Chicopee, Massachusetts. Marks: ricasso, MADE BY / AMES MFG CO. / CHICOPEE / MASS. (banner style), and US / (inspector) / 1865, additional inspector stamp on pommel and scabbard drag. Standard features include: wooden handle with a swell covered with leather and a wire grip, brass hilt has three branches, brass pommel cap and guard are unadorned, steel blade has flat back with narrow and wide fuller stopped at the ricasso, iron scabbard with iron mountings. Research Center: Weapon6610-Sword-Cavalry-Model-1860-Ames-1865-v1 . Reference: Thillmann Cav. & Arty. Sabers pg. 79. Blade length, 35 inches. Ames, 1865, banner address, inspected by JF, additional inspector stamp on pommel JF and scabbard drag, JCW. Sword is as found untouched, it has not been cleaned or restored in any manner, Grip has leather wrap and wire intact, leather washer intact, handle is tight and secure, blade is very clean, scabbard intact with light rust. Saber is attributed to Corporal John Johnston, First West Virginia Cavalry. Corporal Johnston enlisted August 13, 1861 and was discharged July 8, 1865, he was a cavalryman who participated in most of the major eastern campaigns, including both Bull Runs, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, the Shenandoah Valley 1864 campaigns and others. This saber was in his estate, documented by his son along with other cavalry and veteran artifacts. Note that this unit would have started out as the first loyal (northern) Virginia cavalry unit, ended as a West Virginia unit. This saber, manufactured in 1865, was probably re-supplied to this unit at the very end and may have been issued for use in the Grand Review which this unit participated in. This unit and this cavalryman had campaigned for four hard years, he may or may not have actually had a saber originally or if so it would not be surprising if the original issue was either lost or damaged by 1865, hence the resupply. Sword is as found untouched, it has not been cleaned or restored in any manner. Ridgeway collection, Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, Virginia.

W1496 ### Cavalry saber, Model 1860, Ames, banner address, 1865. . The model 1860 saber was made slightly lighter than the model 1840 and was the primary saber of the Federal cavalry by the end of the war. Manufactured by Ames Manufacturing Company, Chicopee, Massachusetts. Marks: ricasso, MADE BY / AMES MFG CO. / CHICOPEE / MASS. (banner style), and US / (inspector) / 1865, additional inspector stamp on pommel and scabbard drag. Standard features include: wooden handle with a swell covered with leather and a wire grip, brass hilt has three branches, brass pommel cap and guard are unadorned, steel blade has flat back with narrow and wide fuller stopped at the ricasso, iron scabbard with iron mountings. Research Center: Weapon6610-Sword-Cavalry-Model-1860-Ames-1865-v1 . Reference: Thillmann Cav. & Arty. Sabers pg. 79. Blade length, 35 inches. Ames, 1865, banner address, inspected by ADK, pommel JF, scabbard JF. Sword was likely unissued.

This is the "Ridgeway Civil War Research Center", a research tool for educational purposes only, and is provided at no cost to the reader. Some of the relics listed are retained in the author's collection, most reside in other collections and are not owned by the author. None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to relicman.com sales listings for items offered for sale. This is a work in progress, I list items as I get to them, there are many patterns that are not listed yet, this list will be regularly updated as I get pictures and descriptions for more items. I will also correct mistakes, so if you see any please tell me. All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described. Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.

All weapons listed on this webpage are strictly manufactured before 1898, and are considered unsafe for actual use. These are antique collectible weapons of the Civil War (most are pre 1865, unless I state otherwise) and actual firing of these weapons is not recommended for any purpose whatsoever! Because these are all "pre 1898" weapons, no licenses are required for ownership, but common sense and good judgment should be applied.

Most information on this page is from:
Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms......
John Thillman series, "Civil War Cavalry & Artillery Sabers...", or "Civil War Army Swords....".

Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War Weapons Research center, weapons, click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html. Research center, weapons, click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html.

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