Sword

Object/Artifact

-

Wayland Museum

Name/Title

Sword

Entry/Object ID

1958.39.2

Description

Sword; Civil War era Material: handle, solid brass [Following comments are based on notes from John Hamilton, Museum of Our National Heritage, Lexington, MA. He is a specialist at this museum and a gun specialist at Skinner's Auction Galleries in Bolton, MA. Ron Borgeson, Worcester Historical Museum, offered additional comments 8/19/93] - Markings: Christopher Roby, West Chelmsford, Mass. factory Roby did most of Mass. units; had some contracts with gov't Roby made 16,000-17,000 swords Circular Mark "M.S." U.S. FSS inspector - Dated: 186_, rest is not struck, probably '63 or '64 production - Handle has knuckleguard; "21" on knucklebow & grip - I.D.Standard pattern of non-commissioned officers sword (see Peterson's, page 13); first designed by French in 1832; N.C.O. sword model 1840 (officers had to buy their own); Non-Coms didn't carry these into battle only for camp duty, parade & guard duty; sword instruction ceased when Stephen Vincent Benet (poet) got involved; (chief of ordnance of U.S Army until 1874) based on results in Civil War. [Would have leather scabbard worn over shoulder, usually called "Sergeants sword," badge of authority used to give directions during noise of battle, R.B.] - Date: 1863-1864

Cataloged By

Goeselt, Jo

Acquisition

Accession

1958.39

Source or Donor

Blair, Emily (Whitney)

Acquisition Method

Gift

Made/Created

Date made

1863 - 1864

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Transcription

Markings: Christopher Roby, West Chelmsford, Mass. factory - Circular Mark "M.S." - U.S.

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Sword

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Edged Weapons

Nomenclature Class

Armaments

Nomenclature Category

Category 05: Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology

LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials

Civil wars

Search Terms

Civil War

Other Names and Numbers

Other Numbers

Number Type

Other Number

Other Number

GUN 8

Number Type

Old Number

Other Number

GUN 8

Maintenance

Maintenance History

Date

Aug 19, 1993

Notes

Treatment: use eraser to clean number off

Valuations

Valuation Type

Appraisal

Value

$150.00

Estimator

John Hamilton

Date

Aug 19, 1993

General Notes

Note

Notes: Tag: "Civil War sword" Status: OK Status By: Sciacca, Jane Status Date: 2013-12-03