Sword Presented to David G. Farragut
date: label: date made
content: 1864
label: date made, blade
content: 1862
label: date presented
content: 1864-04-23
name: label: recipient
content: Farragut, David Glasgow
label: associated institution
content: Union League Club of New York
label: maker
content: Tiffany & Co.
label: maker
content: Collins & Co.
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: Presented to Rear Admiral David G. Farragut by Members of the Union League Club in New York on April 23, 1864
label: Description
content: David Glasgow Farragut began his naval career at the as an adolescent midshipman during the War of 1812. He went on to become the first admiral in the United States Navy. He is best remembered for a paraphrasing of his orders at the Battle of Mobile Bay as his flagship attempted to navigate a channel full of sea mines, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”
label: Description
content: This sword has a long, slightly curved, single-edged blade decorated with floral designs and military trophies on both sides in silver and gold chasing. A "USN" monogram, an eagle, and a figure blowing a horn are visible on the obverse. Military trophies and another figure blowing a horn can be seen on the reverse as well. The metal grip is cylindrical and wound with twisted gilt wire. The pommel bears the cast of a majestic eagle and below it a line of blue, diamond encrusted stars that wrap around the pommel. The knuckle guard is completely covered in castings of oak leaves and sprays. The knuckle guard terminates in a small quillon shaped like a scroll. The counterguard is fairly large, and features laurel sprays surrounding scroll designs, which surround a blue enamel medallion. The medallion bears the initials "DFG" which are encrusted in approximately 70 small diamonds of varying size.
label: Description
content: The scabbard bears three gold metal mounts. The first two mounts bear castings of an anchor surrounded by oak sprays and acorns. The third mount just features oak sprays and acorns. Engraved on the space between the first two mounts is the inscription “PRESENTED TO / Rear Admiral David G. Farragut, / by Members of the UNION LEAGUE CLUB, as a token of / their appreciation of his gallant Services rendered / in defense of his Country. New York. / April 23RD 1864.” A Tiffany & Co. maker's mark is on the reverse of the scabbard at the top. There are two carrying rings, one on the right side of the top two mounts.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York
label: place made
content: United States: Connecticut, Hartford
label: presented by/in
content: United States: New York
topic: label: Subject
content: Edged Weapons
label: Subject
content: Naval History
label: Subject
content: Web site
label: related event
content: Civil War
setName: label: See more items in
content: Military and Society: Armed Forces History, Military
label: See more items in
content: Military
label: See more items in
content: Civil War Presentation Swords
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: AF.17388A
label: accession number
content: 61288
label: catalog number
content: 17388A
objectType: label: Object Name
content: sword
label: Other Terms
content: Edged Weapons; Presentation
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: steel (blade material)
label: Physical Description
content: brass (hilt material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (scabbard material)
label: Measurements
content: scabbard: 32 1/4 in x 3 3/4 in; 81.915 cm x 9.525 cm
label: Measurements
content: blade: 31 in x 1 1/8 in; 78.74 cm x 2.8575 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 34 1/4 in x 4 1/4 in; 86.995 cm x 10.795 cm