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Title:	SABER -  U.S. SABER MODEL 1902 STAFF & FIELD OFFICER'S
Maker/Manufacturer:	HORSTMANN
Date of Manufacture:	C 1945
Eminent Figure:	GUION, JAMES
Catalog Number:	SPAR 2019
Measurements:	OL:37 1/2" BL: 32" Scabbard: 32 3/4"

Object Description:

U.S. SABER MODEL 1902 STAFF & FIELD OFFICER'S
Manufactured by Horstmann, Philadelphia, Pa. - The Model 1902 Officer's saber is made with three different length blade - 30, 32, and 34 inches respectively. The hilt is the assembly of the grip, the guard, the ferrule, and the pommel. The blade is made of high carbon, oil-hardening steel and is slightly curved upward at the front end. It is nickel plated and etched on both sides for about three-quarters of its length with ornamental design. The letters 'U.S.' are etched on the left side, about the center of the blade. Blades are forged, heat treated, tempered, and straightened, then tested and inspected. The grip is made of steel forging about 10 inches long when flat. It has a rectangular slot at the bottom which fits over the saber shank and abuts against shoulder of blade, with the upper end fitting into a notch at rear of pommel. It also has a small drilled hole which fits over the upper end of blade shank. The slot near upper end is for attaching the sword knot. The guard is nickel plated and buffed. The ferrule, which is made of steel, passes over the lower end of the pommel and grip at the base of the guard holding them securely together. It is nickel plated and buffed. Two steel nuts, which hold the guard and grip securely in place after they are assembled to blade, are screwed on to the upper end of blade shank. The pommel, which is a steel forging, extends along the back of the grip, the lower end being held in place by a ferrule. The upper end fits over upper end of blade shank and is secured by riveting down the end of blade shank which passes through all parts of the hilt when the latter are assembled to the blade. The pommel is nickel plated and buffed. The washer is made of leather 1/10 inch thick, and is placed in front of the guard on the blade as a buffer for the scabbard when the saber is placed in it. Saber weighs approximately 21 ounces. Complete with 32 3/4" scabbard. Scabbard is curved slightly at the lower end to the shape of the saber. It has thin strips of wood for a lining to prevent scratching of the nickel on the blade in inserting and withdrawing it from the scabbard. The body is made of sheet steel about 0.035 inch in thickness. It is bent to form and shape, the edges being brazed together. It is nickel plated and buffed, and brazed to scabbard. The rings are inserted in the holes in bands, after which ends are brazed together and nickel plated and buffed. The bands are of steel and are nickel plated and buffed. They are brazed to the scabbard body, about 3 1/2 inch apart and about 3 inches below the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is made of steel in two pieces,the mouthpiece plate and the mouthpiece spring which are brazed together in manufacture. The mouthpiece spring holds the scabbard linings in place when they are assembled to the scabbard. The scabbard linings of which there are two, one on each side of the scabbard, hold saber in place and prevent rattling and also prevent the nickel on blade from being scratched when inserting and withdrawing from scabbard. Saber belonged to James L. Guion who was commanding officer of SPAR from July 1950 to May 1953. Complete with scabbard.

Markings:
Blade: Etched with usual floral design and stand of arms plus J.L. GUION.
Ricasso: Horstmann trade mark. HORSTMANN COMPANY PHILADELPHIA in circle.

Saber donated to the Springfield Armory NHS by Mrs. James Guion on 14 July 1980. Saber purchased by Col. Guion upon his graduation from West Point in 1917. It was retained throughout his military service.

Notes: Col. James L. Guion, Col., Ord. Dept. (SPAR tenure - July 1, 1950 - May 13, 1953.) Colonel James L. Guion, Springfield Armory's Commanding Officer, from 1 July 1950 - 31 July 1953, was born in Kansas City, Missouri, April 28, 1894. Following graduation from high school, he entered West Point and was graduated from that institution in 1917, just after the United States entered World War I.
Upon graduation as a 2nd Lieutenant, he was assigned to the Field Artillery and served overseas with tAfter World War I, he returned to West Point as instructor in Mathematics. This tour of duty lasted two years and was followed by another teaching assignment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he was an instructor in the School of Fire.
Transferred to the Ordnance Department in 1923, he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for one year, and then continued his studies for three years at the University of Chicago, receiving his doctor's degree in Mathematics and Physics in 1928.
At the completion of this course of study, Colonel Guion was placed in charge of ballistic research at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. After five years of service, he was transferred to Washington, D.C., where he attended the Army Industrial College for one year.
In 1933, Colonel Guion was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Ordnance in Washington and served three years in charge of Artillery and Fire Control development and procurement. He then became director of the Metallurgical Laboratory at Watertown Arsenal, Watertown, Mass. From there, he was transferred to the Pittsburgh Ordnance District as Deputy District Chief where he placed the Pittsburgh Area in production for World War II.
In 1942, Colonel Guion was appointed Chief of Artillery Maintenance, and received the Legion of Merit for organizing and operating artillery maintenance. He was transferred from the Field Service of the Ordnance Department to the Military Plans Division in the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, in 1944. This assignment, which entailed overseas planning operations, lasted to 1947. During this period, Colonel Guion made several trips overseas in connection with planning operations.
The Armory's new Commanding Officer comes to Springfield after a three-year tour of duty in the Pacific, having been stationed in Honolulu where he served as Ordnance Officer, United States Army, Pacific.
Springfield and New England are not unfamiliar to Colonel and Mrs. Guion who celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary recently. In the course of his duties at Watertown Arsenal, the Colonel had occasion to visit Springfield Armory, and Mrs. Guion knows New England through her music associations. Mrs. Guion studied piano in Boston under the famous Madame Hopekirk and Arthur Foote. She has been very active in music circles in Washington, Pittsburg, and Honolulu.
Colonel and Mrs. Guion have on son, Lieutenant James L. Guion, Jr., who was graduated from West Point on the 6th of June, and married on the 18th of June.
Colonel Guion automatically assumed the duties of the Commanding Officer, which have been carried out temporarily by Lt. Colonel Francis J. McMorrow. The Armory will find an experienced leader in Colonel Guion. With Armory personnel enjoying the annual vacation period, the Colonel will have full opportunity to become settled in his new position before work is resumed at the historic institution on the 17th of this month." - Biographical Sketch of Colonel James L. Guion, 5 July 1950

"Horstmann, Wm. H. & Sons - Horstmann, a native of Germany, migrated to the U.S. in 1816. He established in Philadelphia the same year as a dealer in textiles. He soon began to develop a trade in military uniforms and accouterments. About 1830 he purchased the works of a German swordsmaker by the name of Widtman. Horstmann died in 1850 and the business was continued by his two sons, Hortsmann & Bros. In 1859 the works were located at the corner of 5th and Cherry Streets....
Horstmann & Bros. - Philadelphia, Pa. Sons and successors to Wm. H. Horstmann & Sons. Received a Government contract July 27, 1861 for: 1,000 non-commissioned officers swords at $5.12 1/2 each, a total of $5,125; 2,000 cavalry sabers at $6.87 1/2 each, a total of $13,750; 500 musician's swords at $3.62 1/2 each, a total of $1,812." - Colonel Robert E. Gardner

References:
Crouch, Howard R. HISTORIC AMERICAN SWORDS. SCS Publications. Fairfax, Va. 1999.
Furr, Clegg DonaGardner, Robert E. SMALL ARMS MAKERS. Crown Publishers, Inc. N.Y., N.Y. 1963.

Technical Regulation 1300-E. INFANTRY AND AIRCRAFT ARMAMENT. War Department, Washington, D.C. 18 May 1927.