Post by Jordan Williams on Dec 15, 2017 6:15:29 GMT
Dec 15, 2017 1:07:08 GMT @edelweiss said:
I wanted to just briefly revisit this one to say that you may well have an old sword. You may well even have a real Ames that was overmarked by someone. (1) In your first post to the thread, one can see a number on the knuckle bow near the pommel. None of the reproductions I have ever seen have such. I do however see such numbers on unmarked imports, my generic "wristbreaker" has such a number. JH on the pommel though often see on repros and as easily stamped as letters we see on the blade.
I wondered about that, I assumed it was standard for U.S. troopers swords and thought nothing more of it. Time to find some books I suppose
(2)the Ames stamping side appears to have been mauled with some pretty deep scratches that seem to be under the stamping. Otherwise the stamped letters would show having been scratched through. I don't know what to think of the obverse side but it does look scraped to me. There is only so much one can judge from pictures. Inspected blades should show a US above the inspector, then the date below. Whatever is showing looks as high up as a US should be. There definitely something within a rectangle there and one could hope it was not a modern import made in mrk
I wonder if printing photo of the U.S. stamp, cutting it out and laying it over the remains of whatever it was could give any hints? Maybe I'll try that tomorrow, along with the U.S. A.D.K. 1862 fake markings to see if any of them match up.
(3) the period Ames grips have a very brown hue to them. I cannot determine the true hue of your's but something to consider.
Hope! There are a number of places on the front of the grip where there is raw walnut brown leather showing. It's probably not visible in the photos, however there are spots where the black coating actually seems to be over applied and wrinkles. Any suggestions for removing paint from leather? The wiring will be easy to remove as the wooden pin has loosened considerably.
So, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater just yet. Considering the guard number, which was probably just a batch number, I'll change my vote from old reproduction to a possibly and spuriously remarked import. The more I look though, the more curious it seems.
Then again, I might be full of it but the Ames mark just reads bogus to me and the scraping and scratches look purposeful to me. No way around those facets.
Import/repro, I just dunno but try to enjoy what looks like a fairly well made sword.
I really wish I lived in an area with militaria or antiques dealers who would have an 1860 in stock, I'd really like to be able to compare them side by side. Closest ones to me are over 2 hours away as it is.
Whether it's a repro or not, it really is well made and certainly feels like how a sword should feel.