George Washington’s Battle Sword and Scabbard

Picture sourec & description below: http://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=728

Dimensions / Weight

Dimensions: 3.5" H x 36.25" W x 1.25" D

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, a 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.

In 1784, Bailey returned to New York and was granted American citizenship. Despite applying to George Washington for a post minting coinage for the new United States of America, Bailey was not granted a commission.

From: http://nyhistoric.com/2013/08/george-washingtons-sword/

Around 1777, Fishkill, NY became the primary depot of the American forces in the Revolution.
John Bailey was a prominent silversmith and sword cutler who made hundreds of swords of very fine quality. The leather for the scabbards came from hides which were tanned on his 200 acre Fishkill farm. Alongside him, Bailey’s (2nd) wife, Ann, stitched together the leather for the scabbards. This work was done in a small shop along Forge Brook. Bailey came to New York from England in 1755, at the age of 19 and is probably most known for making General Washington’s battle sword, which was carried by Washington throughout the Revolution.
Upon his death, Washington bequeathed 5 of his swords to his 5 nephews.

Exerpt from Washington’s will:

“To each of my nephews, William Augustine Washington, George Lewis, George Steptoe Washington, Bushrod Washington and Samuel Washington, I give one of the swords or cutteaux of which I may die possessed; and they are to chose in the order they are named. These swords are accompanied with an injunction not to unsheathe them for the purpose of shedding blood, except it be for self defense, or in defense of their Country and it’s rights; and in the latter case, to keep them unsheathed, and prefer falling with them in their hands, to the relinquishment thereof. . . .”

Samuel T. Washington was the nephew who received this Bailey-made sword, and on February 8, 1843, his son donated it to the United States Congress. The sword now resides at the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History. **As of this posting, (August 2013), The Smithsonian’s website lists this sword as being “currently not on view.”