Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is a very rare and beautiful sword. This M1905/06 example was manufactured by the Ames Sword Company and is dated 1906. The sword comes with it’s equally rare if not rarer pigskin over wood scabbard as used by Officers. The sword is in great condition overall.

The M1905/06 Experimental was developed in response to President Theodore Roosevelt's famous letter to Secretary of War William Taft questioning design decisions on rifles, bayonets and sabers. Chief of Staff Adna Chaffee ordered the creation of two boards; one a joint Army-Navy board which confirmed the desirability of a usable saber for both services, and a Special Committee that came up with the design for this saber. It was based on the blade from the M1902 Officer's Saber, but the unique birds'-head grip was the design of one of the last of the freelance industrial-society geniuses, A.C. Cunningham. The Army published a set of provisional drill regulations for the experimental saber, but what is less known is that Mr. Cunningham drew up a parallel drill for the Navy, anticipating the adoption of the design.

A total of 1316 of the sabers were produced for testing between Ames and the Springfield Armory, and were widely distributed for testing between 5 cavalry regiments, 6 infantry regiments, 3 artillery regiments, and a scattering of Engineer, Signal Corps and Staff units. Testing began about August of 1906 and continued until November of 1908, and further testing of sabers incorporating modifications recommended during the trials was authorized by the Acting Secretary of War in August 1909. Though several prototypes with various of the recommended changes were produced, the program died out in early 1910.

The M-1905/06 scabbard is made of wood, covered in collar leather for enlisted and pigskin for officers, and was manufactured at the Rock Island Arsenal. There are three lengths to accommodate the blade lengths. Nickel-plated steel scabbards have also been noted. They are rare and assumed to have been produced at the Springfield Armory.

The overall condition of the sword is quite fair, with some chips in the edge of the blade as shown. The scabbard has some material loss at the bottom and top as shown, with a small chunk missing near the end, but no significant bends or damage. One of the two rings is missing its leather. There is a small bit of loss to the sharkskin grip on the hilt, but it is mostly retained. Blade lengths were produced in 27, 30 and 32 inches with this one being 30 inches and an overall length of 38 inches. The scabbard measures approximately 32 inches and retains both suspension rings.

A beautiful example that comes more than ready for further research and display.

Approximate Dimensions:
Blade Length: 30"
Blade Style: Curved Saber with Fuller
Overall length: 36“
Scabbard length: 32”