AMES HIGH GRADE PRESENTATION MODEL 1850 STAFF AND FIELD OFFICERS SWORD.

AMES HIGH GRADE PRESENTATION MODEL 1850 STAFF AND FIELD OFFICERS SWORD. 32” etched blade with various military motifs. Blade and scabbard are both marked with full firm address. Grip is sharkskin with twisted wire. The scabbard has presentation between the top two mounts that reads “Presented to Major Benjamin E. Trafford, late Captain of Company E., 71st Regiment American Guard, by the Members of his recent command, New York, Oct. 24th, 1862”. Scabbard is of the highest quality with raised relief mounts and large etched panel on brass body. Colonel Trafford was born in New York City in 1836. At the age of eighteen he entered the 71st Regiment as Private, and was soon after promoted Corporal. On May 26, 1859, he was commissioned Captain of Company B; on November 18, 1862, he was elected Major; on January 28, 1863, he was elected Lieut.-Colonel; and on May 13, 1863, he was elected Colonel. He served with the regiment in the campaign of 1861, participating in the battle of Bull Run, where he behaved with great gallantry. He served also in the campaign of 1862. When the rebel invasion of Pennsylvania was made in 1863, Colonel Trafford was in command of the regiment. On the arrival of the regiment at Harrisburg, it was brigaded with the 8th N.Y. Regiment. General J. M. Varian was the Colonel command the 8th at the time, and being senior officer he was placed in command of the provisional brigade. The brigade was engaged in the defense of railroads and bridges. On the night of June 21, the two regiments were to take the cars at Chambersburg for Carlisle. It was divided into two wings with one company as skirmishers. Colonel Trafford remained with the skirmishers, that being the most dangerous position. When the troops took the cars, Colonel Trafford missed the left wing of his command, and although Colonel Varian assured him that, excepting the company of skirmishers, the 71st was aboard the cars, Colonel Trafford was not satisfied. The rain was falling heavily and the roads were very muddy; nevertheless Colonel Trafford rode off in the darkness in search of his missing soldiers. Eventually he found them, wet and fatigued after a march of twenty miles. He secured a train of cars and sent them on to join the remainder of his regiment. He returned with his command soon after to assist in quelling the New York draft riots. Colonel Trafford resigned his command of the 71st in 1866, and about this time published a monograph on military tactics, which had a wide circulation. This sword is accompanied by Colonel Trafford’s cased epaulets, regimental history of the 71st New York, sword belt lacking buckle (probably postwar), several war time muster rolls signed by Trafford, name plate from his saddle, Infantry Manual of Arms, Major and Lieut. Colonel shoulder straps, straight razor, swatch of his hair with old tag, several copies of his obituaries and many letters and photographs both war time and post war and a set of New York state seal buttons that were once on Colonel Trafford’s coat. CONDITION: Hinge on epaulet case is broken. Regimental history is shaken, missing spine and has numerous missing pages. Several muster rolls are broken at folds. Infantry manual is missing back cover and has tape repairs. Sword has gray/bright blade 100% of etching is visible though no orig frost is present. Scabbard and hilt have been cleaned such that only traces of orig gilt is present. Sword has been unhilted such that a new protective washer has been added. 4-30276 JS9 (10,000-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2007

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	260	$16,100.00	AMES HIGH GRADE PRESENTATION MODEL 1850 STAFF AND FIELD OFFICERS SWORD. 32” etched blade with various military motifs. Blade and scabbard are both marked with full firm address. Grip is sharkskin with twisted wire. The scabbard has presentation between the top two mounts that reads “Presented to Major Benjamin E. Trafford, late Captain of Company E., 71st Regiment American Guard, by the Members of his recent command, New York, Oct. 24th, 1862”. Scabbard is of the highest quality with raised relief mounts and large etched panel on brass body. Colonel Trafford was born in New York City in 1836. At the age of eighteen he entered the 71st Regiment as Private, and was soon after promoted Corporal. On May 26, 1859, he was commissioned Captain of Company B; on November 18, 1862, he was elected Major; on January 28, 1863, he was elected Lieut.-Colonel; and on May 13, 1863, he was elected Colonel. He served with the regiment in the campaign of 1861, participating in the battle of Bull Run, where he behaved with great gallantry. He served also in the campaign of 1862. When the rebel invasion of Pennsylvania was made in 1863, Colonel Trafford was in command of the regiment. On the arrival of the regiment at Harrisburg, it was brigaded with the 8th N.Y. Regiment. General J. M. Varian was the Colonel command the 8th at the time, and being senior officer he was placed in command of the provisional brigade. The brigade was engaged in the defense of railroads and bridges. On the night of June 21, the two regiments were to take the cars at Chambersburg for Carlisle. It was divided into two wings with one company as skirmishers. Colonel Trafford remained with the skirmishers, that being the most dangerous position. When the troops took the cars, Colonel Trafford missed the left wing of his command, and although Colonel Varian assured him that, excepting the company of skirmishers, the 71st was aboard the cars, Colonel Trafford was not satisfied. The rain was falling heavily and the roads were very muddy; nevertheless Colonel Trafford rode off in the darkness in search of his missing soldiers. Eventually he found them, wet and fatigued after a march of twenty miles. He secured a train of cars and sent them on to join the remainder of his regiment. He returned with his command soon after to assist in quelling the New York draft riots. Colonel Trafford resigned his command of the 71st in 1866, and about this time published a monograph on military tactics, which had a wide circulation. This sword is accompanied by Colonel Trafford’s cased epaulets, regimental history of the 71st New York, sword belt lacking buckle (probably postwar), several war time muster rolls signed by Trafford, name plate from his saddle, Infantry Manual of Arms, Major and Lieut. Colonel shoulder straps, straight razor, swatch of his hair with old tag, several copies of his obituaries and many letters and photographs both war time and post war and a set of New York state seal buttons that were once on Colonel Trafford’s coat. CONDITION: Hinge on epaulet case is broken. Regimental history is shaken, missing spine and has numerous missing pages. Several muster rolls are broken at folds. Infantry manual is missing back cover and has tape repairs. Sword has gray/bright blade 100% of etching is visible though no orig frost is present. Scabbard and hilt have been cleaned such that only traces of orig gilt is present. Sword has been unhilted such that a new protective washer has been added. 4-30276 JS9 (10,000-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2007 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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