Today

In August of 1840, the US Army Ordnance Dept. contracted with
S&K, Solingen, Prussia for 1000 swords of this pattern. Later, Ames Mfg. Co. received their first contract in 1844 to make this sword.
This sword was worn by American sergeants during such great
conflicts as the Mexican War, the Civil War, and the Spanish
American War. This sword has a long
straight and heavy single-edged blade with a rudimentary false edge.
A single broad fuller is running from the ricasso to within
1 1/2 inches of the point. The hilt is cast brass, the grip is ribbed
in imitation of wire wrapping and is also made of solid brass,
the pommel is globular in shape, the knuckle-bow is a flattened strip,
there is a double kidney-shaped counter guard, cast integrally
with it. 37 1/2" overall length, blade is 31 3/4" in length and
7/8 inches wide at the hilt.
 

Noncommissioned officers carried swords by tradition.
In the days of slow to load muskets they were a
practical last line of defense if an enemy closed on the soldiers. By the time
of the Civil War, however, they were more of an ornament. Despite that it continued in use for the rest of the century. The hilt is made of
brass. The blade is straight and made of steel. The manufacturers name
generally appears on the top of the blade with the inspector's initials and year
of manufacture on the opposite side. This blade is marked Emerson and Silver and U.S. 1863 and D.F.M. (Dexter F. Mosman). The scabbard is generally leather, but those made by Emerson and Silver are iron and japanned black
with brass throat and drag. It was not designed to be hung on rings but was secured in a frog and suspended by a cross belt worn over the right shoulder.
This is opposite from the manner in which the cartridge box was worn
(belt over the left shoulder).