Swords of the War of 1812 era are highly collectable and extremely valuable today. This fascinating book is filled with little-known historical data about the men, companies and government arsenals that made, sold, stockpiled and issued swords during this often overlooked period in American armaments production.

This work is the most comprehensive reference work on the War of 1812 yet published, offering a multidisciplinary treatment of course, causes, effects, and specific details of the War that provides both quick reference and in-depth analysis for readers from the high school level to scholars in the field. The Encyclopedia of the War of 1812: A Political, Social, and Military History dedicates 872 entries—totaling some 600,000 words—to this important American war. It is the most comprehensive and significant reference work available on the subject. Its entries spotlight the key battles, standout individuals, essential weapons, and social, political, and economic developments, and examine the wider, concurrent European developments which directly affected this conflict in North America. A volume of primary documents provides more avenues for research. This three-volume work offers comprehensive, in-depth information in a format that lends itself to quick and easy use, making it ideal for high school, college, and university-level learners as well as general learning annexes and military libraries. Scholars of the period and students of American military history will find it essential reading.

"The first book devoted exclusively to the subject, this invaluable volume will aid collectors, curators, historians and anyone interested in weaponry to identify American swords. Enhanced with more than 400 illustrations from catalogs, manuals, and other rare documents, the book classifies and describes all major types of swords worn by the U.S. armed forces, cadets, and diplomats since the American Revolution to the end of World War II. Also included is a directory of American sword makers, an essay on the evolution of scabbards and methods of wearing swords, a discussion of sword nomenclature, and an appendix titled "American Silver Mounted Swords 1700-1815," which served as a catalog of an exhibition held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1955. This important addition describes small swords, sabers and hunting swords, and unique silver mounted swords. An invaluable guide to collectors and dealers, the comprehensive reference will delight students of weaponry and arms enthusiasts. Unabridged republication of the edition originally published by Robert Halter, The River House, New Hope, Pennsylvania, 1954. Appendix privately printed in Washington D.C., 1955. Index. 289 halftones; 117 black-and-white illustrations." -- publisher description (November 2006).

This is the first book ever to span the complete history of American swords, sword makers and sword dealers from Colonial times to the present. More than 200 exquisite photos of important cavalry, infantry, artillery and naval swords and the most complete bibliography in print on swords and sword makers make this the definitive volume for collectors and historians.

This publication gives the sword enthusiast an opportunity to observe edged weapons made, for the most part, in the United States that display regional characteristics that often transcend state lines. The makers of these swords, many of whom were silversmiths as well, had learned the skills and peculiarities of their masters during apprenticeship before yielding to the desires of the shop owner as journeymen. Later, many of these often relocated to new localities, practicing their former traits before they could open their own establishment, where they would be free to exercise their own creative ingenuities. Mr. Hartzler has done an excellent job in ferreting out edged weapons, especially swords, and their makers from throughout the country and identifying who they were and where and when they were in business. His identification of the styles and characteristics of the various swords, as well as the region from which they came, will be immensely helpful to students in their future study of these weapons. His unique method of presentation, illustrating what state or region these weapons originated from, as well as their individual characteristics, elucidate the various styles and traits developed throughout the different areas. One can also follow the travels of a sword maker by the pattern of his products.

American Swordmakers is the definitive reference volume to American swords from Colonial times to the present. In addition to the men, companies, and government facilities that made swords, this reference also contains a huge amount of data on the makers of dirks, naval and infantry pikes, cavalry lances, halberds, tomahawks, and bayonets. This book, which contains information formerly found in American Swords and Swordmakers, also features: all government sword contracts, from the first with Nathan Starr in 1798 to the last in 1916 with Landers, Frary, & Clark detailed information on all U.S. and Confederate arsenals and armories that were involved with swords in any way a complete list of U.S. military arms inspectors and the initials they used on inspected blades a chapter on early silversmiths who hilted swords two chapters on all the dealers and retailers that sold swords This wealth of information makes American Swordmakers an indispensable reference for both the beginner and experienced collector of edged weaponry.