| The most popular collectible of all American arms | | | | sabers for enlisted men. He produced 2,000 |
| are presentation swords which were awards of | | | | swords marking them with "N Starr & Co." |
| honor and not intended for combat. Many of | | | | on one side of the blade and "US - 1799" on the |
| these swords are decorated with gold and silver | | | | other. |
| with elaborately etched blades. Also cherished are | | | | A number of other companies also manufactured |
| swords that officers had custom made for | | | | swords for the United States Army in the post |
| themselves, in many cases beautifully crafted of | | | | Revolutionary years and leading up to the War of |
| costly materials. Some collectors specialize in | | | | 1812. These swords were called "contract" |
| swords made by a particular sword maker, such | | | | swords and are not that hard to find. The eagle, |
| as Nathan P. Ames of Springfield, MA. Ames | | | | adopted as a national symbol in 1782, was a |
| made swords in the late 1800s. Other collectors | | | | favorite choice of officers as an emblem on their |
| concentrate on weapons of one period. The Civil | | | | swords. By the time of the Mexican War, many |
| War is the most popular. | | | | contract swords were made. The best known of |
| Collectors of American Military Swords generally | | | | these swords is the desirable model 1832. Many |
| group swords according to the wars in which they | | | | swords from the early 1800s saw service again in |
| might have been used, the Revolution, the war of | | | | the Civil War, and examples of swords used in |
| 1812, the Mexican War of 1846-1848 and the Civil | | | | this conflict are also not hard to find. Any sword |
| War. Swords of the Revolutionary period can be | | | | made for the Confederacy are prized more than |
| the most valuable. | | | | those of the Union because far fewer were |
| Very few American swords made prior to the | | | | made. Confederate swords usually include the |
| Revolution were made in America. Most swords | | | | initials "CS" for Confederate States or "CSA" for |
| were imported from Europe or just the blades | | | | Confederate States of America engraved on the |
| were imported, then finished here. American | | | | blade. Discovering the history of a sword is one |
| made swords usually had a grip of cherry or | | | | of the most interesting aspects of collecting. Many |
| maple wood wrapped in wire. A few of these | | | | old American swords were engraved with the |
| sword makers signed their work, among them | | | | owners names. Their official military records can |
| silversmiths John Bailey and Ephraim Brasher of | | | | tell some fascinating stories and are available to |
| New York City. In 1798, Nathan Starr of | | | | the public. |
| Middletown, Connecticut was making cavalry | | | | |