Sword Presented to Levi Force
- Description (Brief)
- Presented to Captain L. Force by his Company
- Description
- Formerly a sergeant in the regular army, Levi Force enlisted as a private in Company ‘C’ of the 179th New York Volunteer Infantry in April, 1864. By August he was promoted to Captain and mustered out with his regiment in June 1865. This sword was presented to him by the men of his Company.
- The blade of this Model 1850 presentation sword is long, curved, and single edged. The fuller is broad and shallow, and extends about two thirds of the way to the tip of the blade. Both sides are decorated with scroll designs in silver chasing. The obverse bears an eagle holding an "E PLURIBUS UNUM" banner, and the reverse bears a "U.S." monogram. The grip of the sword is cylindrical and has a metal gilt wire that wraps around it in a spiral. The pommel features oak spray castings on the sides and a scroll design on the top. The knuckle guard is a strip of gold metal with floral sprays. The counterguard is half basket shaped and bears an eagle with a US shield and oak and laurel sprays. The knuckle guard terminates in a quillon in the shape of an eagle's head.
- The scabbard has three gold mounts. The top mount bears a casting of Columbia holding a sword and a US shield. The second mount bears military trophies. The third mount features a Union soldier carrying a flag. The reverse of the first mount bears the inscription “Presented to / Capt. L. Force / By his Company”. There are two carrying rings on the scabbard, one on the right side of each of the top two mounts
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1865
- associated person
- Force, Levi
- maker
- W. Clauberg
- place made
- Deutschland: North Rhine-Westphalia, Solingen
- Physical Description
- metal, gilt (scabbard material)
- steel (blade material)
- metal (hilt material)
- Measurements
- blade: 33 in x 1 1/8 in; 83.82 cm x 2.8575 cm
- scabbard: 33 3/4 in x 2 3/4 in; 85.725 cm x 6.985 cm
- overall: 39 in x 4 3/4 in; 99.06 cm x 12.065 cm
- ID Number
- AF.41929
- catalog number
- 41929
- accession number
- 149376
- Credit Line
- John N. Force
- subject
- Edged Weapons
- Civil War
- related event
- Civil War
- See more items in
- Armed Forces History: Armed Forces History, Military
- Military
- Civil War Presentation Swords
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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