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Staff and Field Officers’ Sword, 1860 (HLP 135)
A wise man in the War Department decided that staff and field officers rarely, if ever, would have to swing a saber in combat. Therefore, a sword was adopted that was fragile and almost useless for any purpose. The officers of the army did not like the new sword. Never the less, the Staff and Field Officers’ Sword was adopted on August 28, 1860 but was not mandatory until 1872. The brass gilded hilt has a flattened knuckle-bow, ornamented with a scroll, and the pommel bears an eagle on the obverse side. The reverse side has a shield. The grips have ferrules at both ends and are covered with fish skin wound with gilded wire. A kidney shaped counter-guard is ornamented on the obverse side with an eagle and flags. The reverse side of the guard has a floral wreath, military trophies, and a U.S. shield. A lion mask terminates the quillon. The straight blade has, “US.” and military trophv designs on the obverse side, and the reverse side has an eag1e. The ricasso is marked, “H. V. Allien, New York”.
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