The first consists of extensive written descriptions published in contemporary accounts of the presentation of the sword to Admiral Foote. Although there are no images of the Foote sword, the details of its appearance are known through two sources. The sword seen here, a promised gift to the Met, is closely related to the Foote sword. Grant (Smithsonian Institution) a pair of pistols given by President Abraham Lincoln to the governor of Adrianople, Turkey (FDR Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, NY) two swords presented by Lincoln to the King of Thailand as diplomatic gifts (present whereabouts unknown), and a naval presentation sword awarded to Admiral Andrew Hull Foote in 1863 (present whereabouts unknown).
These include a sword given to Ulysses S. Early in his career, while establishing his reputation for the small and large-scale figural works that made him the most famous American sculptor of the Civil War era, Ward created models for a variety of decorative items and executed at least five important commissions for the design of presentation arms.
The chape is decorated with four leaves and a rounded cluster of foliage at the tip.The beautifully conceived hilt of this sword was previously unrecognized as made from models created by the artist John Quincy Adams Ward (1830–1910) and appears to be the only complete hilt of this design to survive. On the reverse of the locket is the above mentioned inscription. There is a geometric design of a face below the bear head followed by a large leaf that is flanked by clusters of corn. Two emanate from below the bear’s head and curve into a heart above the bear’s head. The rest of the locket has etchings in the shape of large leaves. The obverse locket has a stud cast in the shape of a bear head. The scabbard is wood covered with black fabric, possibly silk. The Native American is bare silver while the panthers have a gold-wash. The Native American is holding the mountain lion's head away with his left hand while the animal is scratching his face.
The hilt is cast silver, shaped in the form of a Native American man standing with his right foot on an injured mountain lion while stabbing a second mountain lion with his right hand. There are three fullers down the center of the blade. The sword has a straight, double-edged blade that tapers to a spear point.
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