Toledo 1873 Presentation Sword
date: label: date made
content: 1873
label: date presented
content: 1873
name: label: recipient
content: President Ulysses S. Grant
notes: label: Description
content: Sword: The blade of this presentation sword is slightly curved and single-edged. Both sides are decorated in silver, gold, and blue chasing. On the obverse, there are silver scroll designs and floral sprays on a gold background, and a list of Grant's Civil War battles cast in gold writing on a black banner. The banner intertwines with the floral sprays. Towards the bottom of the blade, there is a blue cluster of weapons with a Spanish helmet, battle axe, sword, and shield. There is also a blue monogram that reads, "USG". On the reverse of the blade, there is a similar floral and scroll design. The banner reads "LET / US / HAVE / PEACE". There is also a cluster of weapons that is identical to the group on the obverse. The grip of the sword is ivory, and has been wrapped with gilt wire approximately 21 times. It has a gold and silver metal backstrap that bears a similar design as the blade, as well as a similar cluster of weapons. The pommel is rounded and is an extension of the grip's backstrap. The knuckleguard is an ornate large piece of metal with scroll designs cast in the center, along with a large eagle with a US shield around its neck holding an "E / PLURIBUS / UNUM" banner under 13 gold stars. The counterguard is a half basket shape and is a continuation of the intricate knuckleguard. It terminates in a small quillon.
label: Description
content: Scabbard: The scabbard bears three mounts, the third of which acts as a drag. The top two mounts feature identical Spanish mask designs on both faces. The third mount bears a scroll pattern, and the throat of the piece features casting of leaves. There are two carrying rings on the scabbard, one on the right side of the top two mounts.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: Place Made
content: Spain: Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo
label: referenced
content: United States: Virginia
topic: label: Subject
content: Edged Weapons
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
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: AF.16077
label: catalog number
content: 16077
label: accession number
content: 13152
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Sword and Scabbard
label: Object Name
content: sword
label: Other Terms
content: Sword and Scabbard; Sword; Edged Weapons; Presentation
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal, gilt (scabbard material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal, steel (blade material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (hilt material)
label: Physical Description
content: ivory (hilt material)
label: Measurements
content: blade: 32 7/8 in x 1 1/8 in; 83.5025 cm x 2.8575 cm
label: Measurements
content: scabbard: 34 1/8 in x 5 5/8 in; 86.6775 cm x 14.2875 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 39 in x 6 1/4 in; 99.06 cm x 15.875 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall, scabbard: 13/16 in x 2 5/8 in x 34 in; 2.0955 cm x 6.6675 cm x 86.36 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall, sword: 4 1/8 in x 5 3/4 in x 38 3/4 in; 10.47496 cm x 14.605 cm x 98.425 cm