Thanks to the kind offices of Jim Hutchins, lately of the Smithsonian, we are able to present these three interesting references to sword production at the factory of N.P. Ames during its early years. This information, from period newspapers, was quoted in the Army and Navy Chronicle during the 1830s. This article first appeared in the March/April 1995 issue of Man at Arms.

From the New York Journal of Commerce, 1836:
SWORD MANUFACTORY- The only establishment of this sort in the United States, we understand, is the Ames's at Cabotville, in Springfield, Mass., where all the swords of the army and navy are now made, as well as a great many which are sent into Texas, Mexico, and South America. The business has so increased within a few years, as to employ 60 hands instead of 8, which they began with. We are sorry for this, though we like to see the triumphs of American ingenuity and energy against foreign, and especially of self-made young men, as these are said to be; and we like also, if fighting is done, or preparation is made for it, to see ourselves independent of the means; or not dependent upon our enemies, at all events. We never had a sword manufactory in the United States, except formerly a poor one at Middletown. Within a few years they were all imported, and the idea of our making them was scouted. The Ames's never have been abroad, though it seems their work has excited such admiration in England, that swords have been sent out in great quantities to this country, intended to pass for their's, and forging even their names. A great compliment truly. We are glad to hear that this establishment is conducted upon strict temperance principles, and always has been.

From the Springfield Republican, 1839:
SPLENDID SWORDS- We saw one day last week, at the factory of N.P. Ames & Co., some unfinished parts of nine swords, which they are making for the State of Virginia, to be presented to certain officers of the Army and Navy, native sons of that State, who have distinguished themselves by acts of bravery and good conduct. The swords will cost $600 each, and, when finished, will be the most expensive and splendid ever made by the Ames's. The hilts are to be of pure gold.
 
From the Boston Mercantile Journal, Oct. 1, 1839:
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AMESES - We have very cursorily mentioned the beautiful table of N.P. Ames, which occupies a conspicuous place, as it well deserves one, in the centre of the rotunda at Quincy Hall, and attracts a continual crowd of admiring spectators. This show is somewhat novel; to some extent unique in our country, as well as in this exhibition... It may not be generally known that there is no other regular sword manufactory in the United States. There never was one, to our knowledge, excepting a small concern set up at Middletown (Conn.), we believe, during the last war, and which ceased its operations very soon after. Swords, to be sure, are occasionally got up elsewhere. There is a German at Philadelphia who finishes some imported blades; and Fletcher, the silversmith, of that city, does one to order now and then, just as our neighbor Mr. Jones would, we suppose, on a pinch; and especially if he got $7,000 for it, as Fletcher did (they say) for the sword given by the Legislature of New York to Col. Worth of the Army; or $1,000, which was the cost of one presented not long ago to Gen. Brady at Detroit. This, by the way, is the greatest cost for a home-made sword, we have heard of. General Macomb has one, a present also, of the $700 style. The Ameses made one lately at $500. for Capt. Turner, now of the frigate Constitution; that is, for the parties who made a gift of it; and they are just now finishing up half a dozen, which are to be presented to as many officers, who distinguished themselves in the last war, by the Legislature of Virginia. We have been surprised to learn how much of a business grows out of these presents, and how many more out of prizes for target-shooting, and so on. They are not, however, made so costly as these we have named, but more generally from one hundred dollars to two; and for that kind the Ameses have a very considerable and a constant demand. They have recently made a $125 sword, which has been given by one of the Salem military companies to Captain Sutton of that city.

These gentlemen furnish the United States army with their swords, by contract with the Government, which amounts, we believe, to some $4,000 yearly, including, no doubt, what are stored, and what are furnished in quotas to the States. The officers order their weapons where they please, only following the national pattern; but not a great many are ordered to be imported. Generally they order their service-swords of the Ameses - a very handsome article, though not above $20 in cost - specimens of which may be seen at Quincy Hall. In that collection we notice one also, ordered by Captain Moore, now commander of the Texan navy, adorned with the national magnolia, and got up altogether in beautiful style, with silver mountings, though not costing probably above $50, and so by no means, an extravaganza for the naval chief of so mighty a nation as that - is going to be. The same gentleman has ordered another article, more substantial - a boarding-sword, elegantly finished - but having the weight and formidable aspect of a pick-axe, or of that far-famed Drontheim "star," wherewith the worthy watchmen of Norway last season thought proper to beat in the thick skull of the riotous Marquis of Waterford. It would do no good, at all events, in a close grapple; probably a bore, rather. The same must be said of the bowie-knife on this table - the only one in Boston we hope - for a most terrific utensil it certainly is. These, Mr. Ames says, are not very marketable, though he has tried his hand at a few.

Mr. A. showed us an article more to our fancy, which is ordered by a Southern gentleman, as a present to "John Trezevant Wigfall," doubtless a military personage. This is a splendid sword, rated at $250, but we have no room for describing it. We can merely mention, also, the new and beautiful pattern intended for the United States Topographical Engineers; the dazzling fancy-sword, fitted for the stage - such as Macready likes to wear, and such as Forrest does wear...

...it is too good a fact to be lost, that the swords sent out to England some years since by the Ameses, or by some of their customers, were not only imitated as exactly as possible, and at once, by their manufacturers, but thought so well of, that the counterfeits came back to this country with even the name of "N.P. Ames" upon them. This was a daring move, and has been discontinued, but we understand the pattern comes constantly still, though without the name. So much for American ingenuity. The compliment may certainly be appreciated, though the trick must, of course, be despised.