America’s armed forces were increased in numbers around 1799 with the approach
of the War of 1812 with England. It was in those years at the turn of the 19th century swords and dirks were made, mainly
in England, in a style that was typically American in character for our military. At the same time, the eagle in
its entirety, with or without the motto, “E. Pluribus Unum,” was incorporated in the decoration of blades. After great deliberation
and much discussion, the eagle was finally adopted in 1782 as an appropriate national emblem. Shortly thereafter, it
made its official début in the use of the Great Seal of the United States, and on the coinage. Soon afterward this insignia
made its appearance generally on military paraphernalia. In the United States National Museum at Washington is an unusually
interesting officer’s saber with its blade decorated with spread eagle, motto, and the date 1783. This is without question
one of the first swords to be so designed and inscribed. In the naval service dirks had a short lived, probably
from about 1805 into the 1840’s except for the midshipman’s version authorized in 1867.