Model 1850 Foot Officer’s Sword

The Model 1850 Foot Officers Sword was the sword most commonly used by US officers from the rank of Major on down in the Infantry and Artillery regiments. There is some variation, as the officers received pay allowances by which they would purchase their swords, but the example offered here is the most common and typical. The flash of the blade when drawn commanded respect and authority to the man wielding it. Many Confederate officers retained and wielded their US Army officer swords during the war.

This Model 1850 Foot Officers Sword by Windlass Steelcrafts has an unsharpened high carbon steel blade with ample amounts of decorative etching. The bottom of the blade has the reproduced markings of W.H. Horstmanh & Son – Philadelphia – a major sword distributor of the period, Horstmanh contracted most of the blades from Germany. The hilt is of brass and the grip is black leather interlaced with spiralled brass and copper wire. The scabbard is of blackened steel with overlaid brass accents and two brass hanging rings.