Object Details
- associated person
- Washington, George
- Bailey, John
- Description
- Physical Description
- Hanger-type sword of forged steel with grooved blade. Grip of green-dyed ivory with silver strip decoration. Leather scabbard with silver trim.
- Specific History
- George Washington wore this simple hanger as his battle sword while serving as commander of the Continental army during the Revolutionary War. Made in Fishkill, New York, by John Bailey, an immigrant cutler from Sheffield, England, the sword has a slightly curved, grooved steel blade, silver-mounted cross guard and pommel, and a green ivory grip.
- The sword was inherited by Washington’s nephew, Samuel T. Washington, an army captain. In his will, Washington admonished his nephew to draw the sword only "in self-defense or in the defense of [the] country and its rights.” Samuel's son donated the sword to the United States government in 1843.
- Credit Line
- U.S. Department of State
- ca 1765
- ca 1778
- ID Number
- AF.32010
- catalog number
- 32010
- accession number
- 68016
- Object Name
- sword
- Other Terms
- sword; Edged Weapons; Hunting
- Physical Description
- green (hilt color)
- ivory (hilt material)
- leather (scabbard material)
- silver (blade material)
- silver (mountings? material)
- bone (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 3 1/2 in x 36 1/4 in x 1 1/4 in; 8.89 cm x 92.075 cm x 3.175 cm
- Place Made
- United States: New York, Fishkill
- used
- United States
- Related Publication
- Kendrick, Kathleen M. and Peter C. Liebhold. Smithsonian Treasures of American History
- National Museum of American History. Treasures of American History online exhibition
- Related Web Publication
- https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/treasures-american-history
- See more items in
- Military and Society: Armed Forces History, Military
- Military
- National Treasures exhibit
- Exhibition
- Price of Freedom
- Exhibition Location
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of American History
- Subject
- Presidents
- related event
- American Revolution
- Revolution and the New Nation
- Record ID
- nmah_434865
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a2-5611-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
