Model 1872 Cadets Sword

The first pictorial evidence found of the use of the sword is a photograph of a group of cadets from 1875. This design is known not to have been used in 1870, but the exact date of the change between this design and the previous design is unknown. Determined 1872 saw many other changes to the army's sword regulations, so this was tentatively chosen as the date for the sword exchange at West Point, although it may actually have taken place as early as 1871 or even 1875.

The straight blade has a diamond-shaped cross-section and tapers evenly towards the tip. It has a strong square ricasso, stamped "U.S. ARMORY/SPRINGFIELD" on the reverse. The hilts are cast to resemble a coil of wire and probably used the same mold as the 1840 NCO sword. At either end of the handles are sleeves decorated with floral scrolls. The bomb is the reverse of a cone surmounted by an eagle flanked by arrows and palms and surmounted by a scroll with a pierced gable knot. The shield consists of straight crossed quillons, with an Eagle's head at either end, and an oval cartouche in the center of the obverse, surrounded by a spray of flowers, bearing the letters "MA" in Old English script. The entire handle is cast brass. Hutre is iron that may have originally been blued but is now clear. For the frog, there is a needle throat and an asymmetrical pull tip, both brass. 

There are several small variations of this model. Some swords are from private makers such as EandF Horster (Germany), Meyers, Rock Island and Ames, as well as Springfield Armory, and are engraved "U.S.M.A." in a cartouche on the back of the blade.

Sometimes, they tried to give the non-commissioned officers of the cadet regiment simpler weapons and nicer models for the officers, but this was abandoned and the swords were distributed indiscriminately.

Frederck T. adds to the confusion. The illustration of Chatman from 1885. It shows two cadets, the first in Summer and Full dress, the second in White Fatigues. The swords of both cadets are well displayed, some originating from before the first orders of 1872 and some from the 1839 model.

Springfield Armory produced a total of 253 swords between 1868 and 1914, followed by an order for hoods in 1920. Armory inventories show that the following number of swords were received between 1868 and 1920; 1868 - 36 pieces, 1874 - 25 pieces, 1876 - 28 pieces, 1880 - 14 pieces, 1882 - 50 pieces, 1893 - 50 pieces and 1914 - 50 pieces. A total of 253 swords plus 100 swords.

The academy's maintenance department often uses parts of swords to repair another, causing considerable confusion. Peterson on page 181 shows a photo of Cadet M.M. Kimmel, U.S.M.A., class of 1857, with swords of that type 10 years older than the model, and Todd refers to an illustration by Fredrick T. Chatman on page 60, dated 1885, of cadets carrying pre-model swords under their arms. 20 years from now. The reconstruction of the swords continues today.