Ms. Haar:
Your sword was made by the Ames, not James, company of Chicopee -- not Chicopet-- Massachusetts.
They were a major Union arms manufacturer during the recent unpleastaness.
They are noted for the poor quality of their sword stamping..I personally own an M 1841 artillery saber made by Ames, dated 1864, marked by the inspector ADK, although those markings are hard to read.
Does your sword have
(1) a single brass guard with a rather curving blade?
or
(2) a multiple brass guard with a somewhat straight blade?
Ifn (1) it is a n M 1841 artillery saber;
Ifn (2) it is a cavalry saber.
But whether it be a M1841 "wristbreaker" or a M1861 will depend upon closer inspection.
rk
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