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Medical Service Sword by Horstmann, Pennsylvania

By Dr. Michael Echols

Lorenzo S. Fox, Asst. Surgeon, 26th Mass. Infantry discharged on 6-11-64.  The kepi (hat) on the table clearly shows a wreath with the letters 'MS' for Medical Service. Dr Lorenzo S Fox was born February 7 1840 He won an education through bis own efforts and received his medical degree from Harvard in 1863.  That same year he was appointed assistant surgeon to the Twenty sixth Massachusetts Regiment with which he served until mustered out in July 1864.  After honorable discharge he rejoined the army and remained in service until the close of the Civil War.   In 1865 he settled in Lowell, Mass.  He made an excellent reputation as a surgeon.   He performed the operation of ovariotomy several times with success.  His 1885 paper called Ten Cases of Abdominal Section before the Gynaecological Society of Boston was highly commended.  He was a member of the Loyal Legion and for several years surgeon of Post 42 Grand Army of the Republic After a brief illness he died June 23 1891

Written regulations for the Medical Corps specified the requirement for Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons to obtain and wear dress swords.  See additional information on Civil War Medical Service swords.

The M 1840 Medical Staff sword was fairly unique when compared to the sword patterns for both Staff and Field/Line officers and Non-Commissioned officers of the same time period.  These swords were elegant in design and completely ceremonial in purpose.  The sword is European in origin, imported by Horstmann for US sales.  The blade is 'uniservice' without US Med. Staff or Caduceus on it so it can be interchanged for Pay Master's who shared the same sword, just with PM vs MS in the hilt.  The only thing requiring change would be the cross-guard.

 

The sword shown below, is a Model 1840 Medical Service marked sword, which is uncleaned, in original condition as found, with full patina of the brass scabbard and handle with no dings or dents.  Over-all length 35 in.  Marked: "W H HORSTMANN / & SONS / PHILADELPHIA".  Ornate brass handle, blade is etched with patriotic symbols. Scabbard is brass with ornate brass mountings.  Handle and cross-guard are marked the same, so both are original to this sword.  

Horstmann & Sons, Philadelphia;   Eagle crest;      E. Pluribus Unum

Comments from a fellow Civil War Medical sword collector regarding the condition of this sword on viewing these photos:

"Untouched, aged, not buffed/polished, etc.  The brown on the scabbard is really aged, oxidized brass.  It means it is hundreds of years old and can't be faked with acid, etc..  That's what really convinced me this is the real deal, and not an 1880 to 1900 later post-Civil War MS sword. 

Originally, all of the brass was gold/gilted plated.  You still have much of the gilt on the hilt fittings.  That's because the metal composition of these fittings differs from the plate pounded-brass of the scabbard.  These fittings were poured with molten metal into moulds.

I would recommend light machine oil on the blade every 6 months and don't polish the brass, if it's really dirty, then simple moist rag with soap and water and really dry it well.  As far as a date, probably in the original initial 1861 shipment batches, more like 1863, but that's just my opinion/speculation."

 

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Last update: Tuesday, March 16, 2010