This Ames saber is very unusual in a number of respects because it was custom made bearing an etched “George T. Balch / Ordnance Corps USMA” panel on the blade. Therefore it likely dates from the period of September of 1864 through July of 1865, his service time at the US Military Academy. It has a Model 1860 Cavalry style of blade, Model 1850 Staff and Field hilt and a scabbard usually seen with upgrade Cavalry officer’s sabers. From Lieutenant in 1851 to Lt. Colonel in 1865 Balch was involved at the Ordnance Bureau in Washington, at Frankford Arsenal, Springfield Arsenal, on expeditions in the West against the Sioux, Instructor of Ordnance and Gunnery at the USMA, West Point and as Principal Assistant to the Chief of Ordnance in Washington. His career clearly put him in charge of very important aspects of all military ordnance hence in a position to decide just exactly what his own military side arms would consist of. The sword blade is most unusual as it looks like it has a single very wide fuller but in reality has tow fullers the top one goes to within 9 inches of the tip while the bottom one is only 12 and ½ inches long. This configuration makes the blade back appear to be a pipe back style even though it is the same width and thickness of a standard model 1860 saber blade. This is clearly something Balch personally wanted because no other Ames blade in this configuration has turned up to this writer’s knowledge. Also, the blade is 36 inches long which makes it about one inch longer than a standard Model 1860 blade. Because we do not know how tall Balch was its size may simply be due to his height. The blade etching is also custom work by Ames. Note the unusual US in the blade center. The blade is immaculate with all of the charcoal color within the frosted areas and bright metal where polished. The hilt gilding is about perfect and the black sharkskin sparkles as only the absolute best Ames grips. Scabbard condition leaves nothing to want as the gold is fine and the lustrous browning is also fine. This is a custom Ames sword and belongs in an advanced collection of the finest American swords.