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- US Model 1905/06 Experimental Cavalry Sword By Ames - Vintage Sword
US Model 1905/06 Experimental Cavalry Sword By Ames - Vintage Sword
This is a rare US Model 1905/06 "Experimental" cavalry sword. It features a 31.75" blade with total length of 38.25", the ricasso is marked "U.S" on one side and "A.S.Co." over flaming bomb with date of 1906 underneath indicating this was manufactured by Ames.
The M1905/06 Experimental was developed in response to President Theodore Roosevelt's famous letter to Secretary of War William Taft questioning design decisions on rifles, bayonets and sabers. Chief of Staff Adna Chaffee ordered the creation of two boards; one a joint Army-Navy board which confirmed the desirability of a usable saber for both services, and a Special Committee that came up with the design for this saber. It was based on the blade from the M1902 Officer's Saber, but the unique birds'-head grip was the design of one of the last of the freelance industrial-society geniuses, A.C. Cunningham. The Army published a set of provisional drill regulations for the experimental saber, but what is less known is that Mr. Cunningham drew up a parallel drill for the Navy, anticipating the adoption of the design.
A total of 1316 of the sabers were produced for testing between Ames and the Springfield Armory, and were widely distributed for testing between five cavalry regiments, six infantry regiments, three artillery regiments, and a scattering of Engineer, Signal Corps and Staff units. Testing began about August of 1906 and continued until November of 1908, and further testing of sabers incorporating modifications recommended during the trials was authorized by the Acting Secretary of War in August 1909. Though several prototypes with various of the recommended changes were produced, the program died out in early 1910.
This example is in good condition with the original edge, there is some corrosion and tarnishing to the blade, patina on the guard and wear to the shark skin grip, the wire wrapping is in very nice shape. There is no scabbard included with this sword. Buy online today!
The M1905/06 Experimental was developed in response to President Theodore Roosevelt's famous letter to Secretary of War William Taft questioning design decisions on rifles, bayonets and sabers. Chief of Staff Adna Chaffee ordered the creation of two boards; one a joint Army-Navy board which confirmed the desirability of a usable saber for both services, and a Special Committee that came up with the design for this saber. It was based on the blade from the M1902 Officer's Saber, but the unique birds'-head grip was the design of one of the last of the freelance industrial-society geniuses, A.C. Cunningham. The Army published a set of provisional drill regulations for the experimental saber, but what is less known is that Mr. Cunningham drew up a parallel drill for the Navy, anticipating the adoption of the design.
A total of 1316 of the sabers were produced for testing between Ames and the Springfield Armory, and were widely distributed for testing between five cavalry regiments, six infantry regiments, three artillery regiments, and a scattering of Engineer, Signal Corps and Staff units. Testing began about August of 1906 and continued until November of 1908, and further testing of sabers incorporating modifications recommended during the trials was authorized by the Acting Secretary of War in August 1909. Though several prototypes with various of the recommended changes were produced, the program died out in early 1910.
This example is in good condition with the original edge, there is some corrosion and tarnishing to the blade, patina on the guard and wear to the shark skin grip, the wire wrapping is in very nice shape. There is no scabbard included with this sword. Buy online today!
