Ames Manufacturing Company

In 1829 the brothers, Nathan P. Ames and James T. Ames, moved their tool and cutlery business to a small village named Cabotville located on the Chicopee River near Springfield, Massachusetts.  Shortly afterwards they started making swords for the US Government and state militias under the trade name of  N.P. Ames.  Nathan died in 1847 leaving James in control of the business.  In 1848 Cabotville became the town of Chicopee.  The Ames Manufacturing Company is best known for their swords but they made many types of arms, including side arms, swords, bayonets, knifes, light artillery and heavy ordinance.  During the Civil War they were one of the Union's most important arms provider. Many sword bayonet contracts were accepted for a large group of different rifles making Ames one of the largest producers of brass hilted sword bayonets before, during and after the US Civil War. As business declined after the war the sword business was sold in 1881.  J.T. Lynch, The Ames Manufacturing Company of Chicopee Massachusetts