West Point Cadets' Swords are Swords traditionally worn by cadet Officers of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. They are issued only to Officers for official ceremonies such as parades, formations, and drills. Cadets always carry their swords while on guard duty; others who carry swords include the Officer of the day, cadets who are under arms, honor council members at hearings, the color guard, and the band Drum Major, and, of course, graduation.
The U.S. Army Generals continued to wear silk sashes in full dress until 1917. Then In 1955, author Frederick P. Todd noted that "Today the West Point cadet officer is the only person in the Army who wears a sword and sash, the sole guardian of the tradition #1
History1802 to 1839 Model 1802
There are many questions about the first cadet-store-issued swords. There are no known examples, nor are there any photos. Most students of the subject believe that from 1802 to 1839, the sword probably looked like (or was) the French Grenadier Sergeant's model sword used in the Revolutionary army." #2
It is important to note that, starting in 1802, the West Point Cadet Store #3 became accountable for all West Point cadet swords. They were made on contract for the Academy to tight specifications. When inventory ran low, the Academy put the same design specifications out for bid up until 2001, when standards were lowered to save money. The Cadet Store today looks to the DOL-LLSO #4 which is now the group accountable for the new design following strong historic references to the past cadet swords. These are ordered for and sold exclusively through the Cadet Store and to the WS4 #5] as their only issue points.
Sales are limited to cadets past and present.
1839 to 1872 Model 1839
Cadet swords made from 1839 to 1872 are very rare. The hilt is made of solid brass and the wire wrap grip is silver plated. Only 200 swords were ordered for West Point and there are only a few known examples of 1839 swords. West Point has two, the Springfield Museum has several more, and there a few in collectors' hands. The Springfield Armory Museum is said to have several prototypes of this sword. Harold L. Peterson points out in his book, The American Sword, that the Springfield Armory ordered the swords in odd lots of 40, 18, and 20. In all, a total of 200 were received. It would be very hard to a find virgin sword that came from the West Point Cadet Store because the bookstore remade this sword over and over again, as broken swords were returned to issue. The bookstore broke it down so the best parts were used to rebuilt the sword from its parts to be reissued again and again. This sword was never sold to cadet s. #3 & #6 Ames made 40 for VMI. The difference is detect able in the makers' marks. The sword cost $11.00 for the first 100 before the price was cut back to $10.00. Copies of the orders from the Springfield Armory to Ames are shown in his book the order clearly shows that they are ordering swords and not sabers #6
In his book, Cadet Gray (p. 40) Fredrick Todd says:
The Board of Visitors of the Military Academy made a study of this matter in 1837, and reported to the Secretary of War that there was "a great want of swords to supply the cadets who, from time to time, act as commissioned and non-commissioned officers of their battalion. The present swords were used during the Revolution, are worn, scarcely capable of use any longer, and entirely unfitted for the purpose. A plan of a sword is understood to be in the War Department.
The Board finally recommended a new West Point sword be adopted and issued to cadet officers, and two years later, in May 1839, these new swords arrived. They were straight-bladed with a brass hilt. The guard formed a simple cross---and this fact has led to the story that they were modeled after the swords carried by the Crusaders. It is more likely that they were modeled after the style of sword carried by the Finance Corps.
Two years later, the Commandant ordered cadet officers always to wear the sash when the sword was worn and specified which sergeants were entitled to this privilege.
Twice since, the design of the cadet sword has been somewhat modified, but it still retains the simple cross design of 1839 #7
In Col. Todd's words, "the only saber issued to cadets was between 1839 and 1947 and it was a light cavalry sword used for 108 years during mounted drills and tactics. #8
1868 to 1922 Model 1872
Model 1872
Manufactured by the Springfield Armory, Springfield, Ma. Produced from 1868 up to 1920 exclusively for West Point Cadet Book Store by the Springfield Armory. Using the official description of sword as described in the 1878 printing of Springfield Ordnance Memorandum # 22 G.P.O. #9.
Markings: "Cross bar: M.A. Blade Ricasso stamped U.S. Armory Springfield Blade is etched with U.S.M.A." #9 Ordnance Memorandum # 22 Dated 1878, or see external links on this page for the Springfieldedge or rediscov listed below for a complete description from the Springfield Armory.
Please note that the head of the Pommel scroll with sword knot hole faces to the left as you view the face of the M-1872 sword. This was changed on the Model-1922 to faced to the right. Photo's of this change can be found on page 68 of Fredricks Todds cadet Gray and another example is on page 10 figure 3 in Burton A Kellerstedt book Swords and sabers of the Armory at Springfield though this can be confusing as the discrimination of photo # 3 describes another sword and does not match the discrimination.
"The Springfield Armory was the only maker of this sword till 1920 and is stamped Springfield Amory on the Ricasso. The Armory production records show that 253 Cadet Swords plus a few pattern samples were manufactured between 1868 to 1920 and used to 1923. There was another order for 100 scabbards to replace the one that were needed. That's 48 years in service. In 1920 the Springfield Amory stopped making this sword and then it was produced under contract to private makers." #9 production records M-1872 1868-1920.
It would be very hard to a find virgin sword that came from the West Point Cadet Store because The bookstore returned the swords to Springfield who broke it down so the best parts were used to rebuilt the sword from its parts to be reissued again and again. This sword was never sold to cadets.
Presentation and other special swords were custom made swords produced by many manufactures Like Lilley-Ames Company of Columbus, Ohio, M.S. Meyers N.Y.C. N.Y., Gemsco Inc. New York, Horstmann Company Philadelphia PA as well as a few more.
Cadets were free to purchase and use there own swords. Which they privately ordered from one of the many makers. Officially this is a copy and is not a officially issued sword. It would be very hard to find a M-1872 Springfield as the few that are around are owned by museums. There were a limited number of custom made swords produced. Unless the blade is etched with with USMA or West Point Military Academy it would be impossible to prove it was used or made for a cadet at West Point.
Name Swords Sword blades engraved with the cadets name are called named sword and less than 20% were made this way. This was much more expensive, most could not afford the extra money to buy it new. The condition of the M-1872 was not getting any better, so there was a good market among cadets to buy used swords and resell it to another cadet after graduation. Name swords could not be resold.
Swords of tradition it would not be uncommon that presentation swords used by high ranking cadet officers swords were passes down swords with special history to the cadet that takes their command the following year. The best examples would be the Regimental commanders, Drum Major, Color Guard and even down to Company commanders were given the honor to use the swords for there use as long as they have the position. Which would make them Swords of Honor.
Cadets had no use for this type of sword in the Army, as officers, they carried the 1902 Army saber, so most cadets did not want to spend the money for a custom sword so they purchased a used one or took a issued one.
1923 to present: model 1922
The sword used today by cadets, the model 1922, is a slightly modified version of the cadet saber adopted in 1872. Both types have a cruciform hilt of gilled brass, with silver-colored grips. Both are engraved with U.S.M.A. custom-etched on the front side of the double-edged blades, and nickel -plated-steel scabbards with gilt-brass mounts. The principal difference between the earlier and the present version is the change to a new ornament on the crossguards, which now displays an oval emblem bearing the helmet worn in greek mythology by Athena, whose helmet design was incorporated into the Academy's heraldoc arms and insignia in 1922. The 1872 sword had its MA displayed in the oval.
The first two contracts went to Ames and Rock Island Arsenal and the swords & scabbard had serial numbers as seen below. It is unknown if serial numbers were on all swords or just the sword produced by the Rock Island Arsenal.
The named sword V.B.H. listed below is in inventory as was given to the museum.
"SWORD - U.S. SWORD MODEL 1922 WEST POINT CADET SN# 191 Maker/Manufacturer: ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL Catalog Number: SPAR 6602 Object Description: U.S. SWORD MODEL 1922 WEST POINT CADET SN# 191 Manufactured by: Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Il. Weighs 1.8. lbs. Complete with scabbard. Blade: V.H.B. U.S.M.S. Quillion: DUTY-HONOR-COUNTRY-U.S.M.A. Scabbard: 191 #10
Past makers
Ames, Lilley Company M.C. Lilley & Company Lilley-Ames Company of Columbus, Ohio M.S. Meyers N.Y.C. N.Y. Gemsco Inc. New York Horstmann Company Philadelphia PA
Selling and other issues
U.S.M.A. cadet swords are copyrighted by the academy and are only sold at the Academy's cadet store. The sword is issued to cadet Officers for free, but must be returned at the end of their senior year. Any cadet or alumnus can buy a new sword for their own. The sword is made today only by WKC Stahl- und Metallwarenfabrik in Solingen, Germany.
This sword is not allowed to be sold new by anyone other than the cadet store at West Point.
Some retail outlets sell this sword new on the internet, in violation of West Point's policies.
The West Point Book Store has never put in an order for sabers: they have only ordered swords. #6 & #7The Cadet's first saber
The West Point Cadet is never issued a Saber nor are they allowed to carry one. Commissioned Officers are allowed to carry the Army model 1902, carried in a scabbard hanging from a shoulder belt known as a baldric or from a waist-mounted sword belt. #12 This is not an issued item and most officers today do not buy their own until they have a need for it.
Notes
#1. Frederick P. Todd (1955). Cadet Gray: A Pictorial History Of Life At West Point As Seen Through Its Uniforms. Sterling Pub. Co.. p. 40.#2. Col. Fredrick Todd U.S.A.R. Cadet Gray 1955 page 17"#3. West Point Cadet Store#4. DOL_LLSO#5. WS4#6. Harold L. Peterson The American Sword 1954#7.Fredrick Todd U.S.A.R. Cadet Gray 1955 page 68"#8 Col. Fredrick Todd Cadet Gray#9 Springfield Armory#10. Springfield Armory Catalog # SPAR 6602 ,#11. name=S.O.P or standard Operating Procedure U.S Army
References
Springfield Armory Springfield, MAWest Point Museum West Point, NYThe American Sword, by Harold L. Peterson, 1954 ISBN 978-0-9603094-1-2 ISBN 978-0-486-42802-4Cadet Gray:, A Pictorial History Of Life At West Point As Seen Through Its Uniforms by Frederick P. Todd 1955 reprint 2011 by Literary Licensing. LLC ISBN 9781258123567 ISBN 1258123568Hamilton, John THE AMES SWORD COMPANY 1829-1935. Mowbray Company. Providence, R.I. 1983.Civil War Collector's Encyclopedia, by Francis Lord, 1963The Ames Sword Company 1829-1935, by John Hamilton, 1983 ISBN 978-0-917218-18-7 ISBN 978-0-917218-18-7Collectors' Guide to Ames US Contract Military Edged Weapons: 1834-1906, by Ron Hickox, 1984 ISBN 978-0-9613064-0-3 ISBN 978-0-9613064-0-3American Swords and Sword Makers, by Richard Bezdek, 1994 ISBN 978-0-87364-765-6 ISBN 978-0-87364-765-6
American Swords in the Phllip Medicus Collection, by Norm Flayderman, 1998Civil War Cavalry and Artillery Sabers by John Thillman, 2001 ISBN 978-0-91721 8-92-7Swords and Sabers of the Armory at Springfield by Burton A. KellerstedtThe Army called it home Military Interiors of the 19 Century by William L. Brown IIICollectors guide to Ames U.S. contract military edge weapoms by Ron G. Hicksos
External links
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