18th-19th cent Western Lt Cavalry swords : Bars & Bowls
Jul 1, 2013 15:46:57 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2013 15:46:57 GMT
*pics to add*
The second part covers the new generations of hilts that appeared at the end of the 18th century.
These changes first appeared in the German states during the second half of the 18th century and would later move westward during the Revolutionary & Napoleonic wars (1792-1815).
It is during this period that the notions of standardization and state-controlled industrial production were firmly applied: the larger the nation’s military power, the more it needed to manage and equip efficiently large armies with quality proven and cost effective weapons.
After the wars against France and the lessons learned from them, the European powers thought to reform their weapons the same way the French did with theirs and via these reforms two specific schools of thought appeared: the first, during the first half of the century, that suggested sword patterns would be divided into sub-elements of the army (heavy vs light cavalry distinctive swords) and the second that it was best to have just one universal sword for each service (infantry, cavalry, artillery and Guard units).
In accordance to these schools only the most practical designs were considered depending on how good they protected the hand and how efficient they could be in combat and this is where the branches and the bowl hilts were largely considered above all else.
Regional preferences can also be observed: Western Europe and nations influenced by the French preferred hilts with branches whereas Eastern European & Germanic nations were in turn influenced by the Austro-Hungarian bowl/basket hilts.
I. Branches and bars
The basis of these changes was the idea to have extra protection to the wrist in order to minimize the wounds (and subsequent loss of life). As was seen in part I, some officers were already concerned about their safety and customized some of their regimental weapons with a single branch or with rotating hilts; their efficiency was noted quickly and some nations decided that it would be also practical for the troopers.
The result was the pioneer model Bavarian 1788 ‘’ Rumford ‘’ which was crafted with two branches that were wide enough to cover the hand while being comfortable and wrist-friendly.
Soon after, its big ally France emulated the model and made the very famous sword for light cavalry (the An IX or 1803 sword), who was the worthy successor of the stirrup hilts.
The model ''a la Chasseur''
This model was first carried in the early 1790’s by the ‘’chasseur a cheval’’ (mounted jaeger) regiments who were another sub-type of light cavalry much like the hussars.
The shape of this style of sword followed this aspect:
- a brass made hilt
- 2 branches connected to the knuckle bow
- a full backstrap from the pommel to the ferrule
- 2 langets
- usually an olive shaped rivet on the grip (depending on the nation)
- wire wrapped grip on officer models
It became the ancestor to a multitude of international models, being the result/legacy of the French military influence that swept across Europe during the Napoleonic wars.
Under the control of the French Empire and to satisfy its war effort and the standardization brought up by regulations, the French model 1803 (AN IX) would be copied by the Italians, Swiss, Dutch and Spanish allies. When the enemy Prussian and Russian armies captured large quantities of these swords during the campaigns of 1812-1814 they liked it, reequipped themselves with it and made their own versions after the war, respectively the Prussian M1817 and Russian M1825-39.
A Venezuelan officer sword and Swiss model 1817 swords, the French influence is obvious
A fun fact: a few decades later in 1853, during the Crimean war, the Russians were still equipped with their 1839 sabre when they faced the French and their 1822s.
Generic bar hilts
The years following 1810-1820’s saw the emergence of (simpler) spawns of the French style: the langets & olive rivet were removed, wire was added to the grip and the quillons were now flattened to a disk shape.
Among those patterns were the French LC 1816 and the 1822 model, the British LC 1821 and the Bavarian 1826 swords. The French 1822 proved to be yet another exceptional sword that also enjoyed a great success in its design, as it was copied by countless European and American nations (the iconic swords used during the wars against the Mexicans, Indians and in the Civil war were French based branch hilts).
A French officer sword, model 1822 for LC
An experimental trooper sabre model 1822 with the blade straightened in 1883
A trooper sabre of the 1882 system, very similar to the one above but with a broad straight blade
Spanish sword hilts for light cavalry models 1815, 1822, 1825 & 1840 (from perso.wanadoo.es/jjperez222/tropacab3_e.htm
Swiss trooper model 1842
The metal used for the hilts differed depending on the nation’s preference; the French & those influenced by them used brass (never rusts) while others, chiefly the Italian, British & many German states (Bavaria, Wurttemberg) models, were always made of iron (more solid but prone to rust).
A 1817-53 trooper sabre from the German state of Wurttemberg
The branches enjoyed a very good war record, participating in almost every conflict worldwide and managed to last until even a few years after WW1. Today they are still used by cavalry units for national parades and events; the French Republican Guard still uses the 1822 sword.
II. Bowls
While many nations adopted bars hilts after the Napoleonic wars, others (especially the German speaking nations) preferred bowl hilts that were seen to be more protective. These hilts, unlike the branches, had a symmetrical protective cup covering a bigger proportion.
As a result the hilts were heavy so most models were perforated or designed with fancy engravings that were cut out to lighten them; others had half bowls instead.
The Austro-Prussian New Wave
For some reason it is sometimes called the Prussian-style but in reality Austria was among the first nations to adopt this system.
They already had acquired good experience with their heavy 1769 broadswords but also held in high esteem the curved blades that made their light cavalry famous so they thought that the logical evolution of swords was to mix the 2 types to obtain one good sword capable of dealing deadly blows with strong curved blades and offered good protection to the rider with a large basket guard.
Up until the 20th cent all their models followed that principle; Austrian swords never again used straight blades for their cavalry units.
Austrian models 1869 for trooper and officer:
Model 1904 for troopers
Model 1904 for officers
The shape of that so-called German style was to have the following aspect:
- an iron hilt
- a full cup/ basket
- a full back strap with reinforced ears in the grip
- a dovehead pommel (depending on the nation)
Much like France’s models were emulated by many nations here it was Austria-Hungary who was the leading power. Its satellite states (Italy, Poland, Bohemia) & some German states (Wurttemberg, Hesse and Bade to name a few) produced many models that were based on the same designs as the Austrian models and vice-versa.
An Austro-Italian officer sabre model 1851:
A Polish National cavalry sabre, with strong Austrian influence
The Austro-German 1850 wave
Spain had an already long love story with cup hilt rapiers and bowl swords (the Bilbo, 1796 & 1803 swords) but from 1803 until the 1850’s it was making swords for light & Line cavalry that were directly inspired by the French Napoleonic swords (as seen above). Sometime after 1860 they decided to change completely and all subsequent sword patterns were modeled after the ‘’Prussian’’ fashion until their last sword model: the 1907 Puerto-Seguro.
Evolution of 1860, 1880, 1895 & 1907 patterns
A 1907 sabre for trooper, the blackened hilt with red cross means it was issued after 1921
The exact same thing applies to Switzerland, who was also using French inspired swords (the 1817s & 1842-52s) until 1860 and then followed the German wave with the models 1867 and 1899.
Troopers sabres models 1867 and 1899
The true ‘’Prussian style’’ & basket hilts
In the year 1889 the Prussian army developed models with half bowl basket hilts with the national state emblem (Bavaria, Wurttemberg, Prussia, Hesse) cut out on the outer side. These models were exported to South American, mainly Chile and Argentina which still uses them today.
The model 1889 for troopers:
The same model were made for private purchase for the enlisted men NCOs and intended for dress but not for combat, known as Extradegen. This example is for a hussar of the 15th hussars (Hannoverian) with battle honors when they fought against Napoleon
Great-Britain, after years of service with branch hilts (models 1821-1853) went along with bowl shaped designs at the last quarter of the century: their last cavalry models (for both light and heavy regts) were the 1885-1899 and 1908.
Model 1899
Model 1908
III. Mixed models: in between
A third group exist which is made of patterns that combined the characteristics of the 2 types above: hilts made of thick and wide branches that form a bowl.
Italian 1860, Swedish models 1854 and 1867
These were not frequent but the most striking examples come from the Scandinavian nations of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Some other countries were seemingly influenced by the looks of these novelties (the Italian 1860 sword is inspired by the Danish 1843 sword) or flirted with the idea for a few prototypes.
Danish model 1843
Italian 1860 cavalry sabre
Swedish model 1842
Among other examples that did was the Prussian 1852 sword; it is basically an Austro-German hilt but made of big iron branches that connect to themselves and cover the whole of the hand.
Other examples are the French model 1896 and 1923: breaking apart from the old tradition of branches, these have complete bowl shaped hilts made of multiple wider branches that are vertical instead of horizontal and cover the whole hand rather than half as did the previous bars hilt systems.
Model 1896
Model 1923 for cavalry officer.
The Infantry model had a simple single fuller blade whereas the cavalry models had double-fullered blades
The second part covers the new generations of hilts that appeared at the end of the 18th century.
These changes first appeared in the German states during the second half of the 18th century and would later move westward during the Revolutionary & Napoleonic wars (1792-1815).
It is during this period that the notions of standardization and state-controlled industrial production were firmly applied: the larger the nation’s military power, the more it needed to manage and equip efficiently large armies with quality proven and cost effective weapons.
After the wars against France and the lessons learned from them, the European powers thought to reform their weapons the same way the French did with theirs and via these reforms two specific schools of thought appeared: the first, during the first half of the century, that suggested sword patterns would be divided into sub-elements of the army (heavy vs light cavalry distinctive swords) and the second that it was best to have just one universal sword for each service (infantry, cavalry, artillery and Guard units).
In accordance to these schools only the most practical designs were considered depending on how good they protected the hand and how efficient they could be in combat and this is where the branches and the bowl hilts were largely considered above all else.
Regional preferences can also be observed: Western Europe and nations influenced by the French preferred hilts with branches whereas Eastern European & Germanic nations were in turn influenced by the Austro-Hungarian bowl/basket hilts.
I. Branches and bars
The basis of these changes was the idea to have extra protection to the wrist in order to minimize the wounds (and subsequent loss of life). As was seen in part I, some officers were already concerned about their safety and customized some of their regimental weapons with a single branch or with rotating hilts; their efficiency was noted quickly and some nations decided that it would be also practical for the troopers.
The result was the pioneer model Bavarian 1788 ‘’ Rumford ‘’ which was crafted with two branches that were wide enough to cover the hand while being comfortable and wrist-friendly.
Soon after, its big ally France emulated the model and made the very famous sword for light cavalry (the An IX or 1803 sword), who was the worthy successor of the stirrup hilts.
The model ''a la Chasseur''
This model was first carried in the early 1790’s by the ‘’chasseur a cheval’’ (mounted jaeger) regiments who were another sub-type of light cavalry much like the hussars.
The shape of this style of sword followed this aspect:
- a brass made hilt
- 2 branches connected to the knuckle bow
- a full backstrap from the pommel to the ferrule
- 2 langets
- usually an olive shaped rivet on the grip (depending on the nation)
- wire wrapped grip on officer models
It became the ancestor to a multitude of international models, being the result/legacy of the French military influence that swept across Europe during the Napoleonic wars.
Under the control of the French Empire and to satisfy its war effort and the standardization brought up by regulations, the French model 1803 (AN IX) would be copied by the Italians, Swiss, Dutch and Spanish allies. When the enemy Prussian and Russian armies captured large quantities of these swords during the campaigns of 1812-1814 they liked it, reequipped themselves with it and made their own versions after the war, respectively the Prussian M1817 and Russian M1825-39.
A Venezuelan officer sword and Swiss model 1817 swords, the French influence is obvious
A fun fact: a few decades later in 1853, during the Crimean war, the Russians were still equipped with their 1839 sabre when they faced the French and their 1822s.
Generic bar hilts
The years following 1810-1820’s saw the emergence of (simpler) spawns of the French style: the langets & olive rivet were removed, wire was added to the grip and the quillons were now flattened to a disk shape.
Among those patterns were the French LC 1816 and the 1822 model, the British LC 1821 and the Bavarian 1826 swords. The French 1822 proved to be yet another exceptional sword that also enjoyed a great success in its design, as it was copied by countless European and American nations (the iconic swords used during the wars against the Mexicans, Indians and in the Civil war were French based branch hilts).
A French officer sword, model 1822 for LC
An experimental trooper sabre model 1822 with the blade straightened in 1883
A trooper sabre of the 1882 system, very similar to the one above but with a broad straight blade
Spanish sword hilts for light cavalry models 1815, 1822, 1825 & 1840 (from perso.wanadoo.es/jjperez222/tropacab3_e.htm
Swiss trooper model 1842
The metal used for the hilts differed depending on the nation’s preference; the French & those influenced by them used brass (never rusts) while others, chiefly the Italian, British & many German states (Bavaria, Wurttemberg) models, were always made of iron (more solid but prone to rust).
A 1817-53 trooper sabre from the German state of Wurttemberg
The branches enjoyed a very good war record, participating in almost every conflict worldwide and managed to last until even a few years after WW1. Today they are still used by cavalry units for national parades and events; the French Republican Guard still uses the 1822 sword.
II. Bowls
While many nations adopted bars hilts after the Napoleonic wars, others (especially the German speaking nations) preferred bowl hilts that were seen to be more protective. These hilts, unlike the branches, had a symmetrical protective cup covering a bigger proportion.
As a result the hilts were heavy so most models were perforated or designed with fancy engravings that were cut out to lighten them; others had half bowls instead.
The Austro-Prussian New Wave
For some reason it is sometimes called the Prussian-style but in reality Austria was among the first nations to adopt this system.
They already had acquired good experience with their heavy 1769 broadswords but also held in high esteem the curved blades that made their light cavalry famous so they thought that the logical evolution of swords was to mix the 2 types to obtain one good sword capable of dealing deadly blows with strong curved blades and offered good protection to the rider with a large basket guard.
Up until the 20th cent all their models followed that principle; Austrian swords never again used straight blades for their cavalry units.
Austrian models 1869 for trooper and officer:
Model 1904 for troopers
Model 1904 for officers
The shape of that so-called German style was to have the following aspect:
- an iron hilt
- a full cup/ basket
- a full back strap with reinforced ears in the grip
- a dovehead pommel (depending on the nation)
Much like France’s models were emulated by many nations here it was Austria-Hungary who was the leading power. Its satellite states (Italy, Poland, Bohemia) & some German states (Wurttemberg, Hesse and Bade to name a few) produced many models that were based on the same designs as the Austrian models and vice-versa.
An Austro-Italian officer sabre model 1851:
A Polish National cavalry sabre, with strong Austrian influence
The Austro-German 1850 wave
Spain had an already long love story with cup hilt rapiers and bowl swords (the Bilbo, 1796 & 1803 swords) but from 1803 until the 1850’s it was making swords for light & Line cavalry that were directly inspired by the French Napoleonic swords (as seen above). Sometime after 1860 they decided to change completely and all subsequent sword patterns were modeled after the ‘’Prussian’’ fashion until their last sword model: the 1907 Puerto-Seguro.
Evolution of 1860, 1880, 1895 & 1907 patterns
A 1907 sabre for trooper, the blackened hilt with red cross means it was issued after 1921
The exact same thing applies to Switzerland, who was also using French inspired swords (the 1817s & 1842-52s) until 1860 and then followed the German wave with the models 1867 and 1899.
Troopers sabres models 1867 and 1899
The true ‘’Prussian style’’ & basket hilts
In the year 1889 the Prussian army developed models with half bowl basket hilts with the national state emblem (Bavaria, Wurttemberg, Prussia, Hesse) cut out on the outer side. These models were exported to South American, mainly Chile and Argentina which still uses them today.
The model 1889 for troopers:
The same model were made for private purchase for the enlisted men NCOs and intended for dress but not for combat, known as Extradegen. This example is for a hussar of the 15th hussars (Hannoverian) with battle honors when they fought against Napoleon
Great-Britain, after years of service with branch hilts (models 1821-1853) went along with bowl shaped designs at the last quarter of the century: their last cavalry models (for both light and heavy regts) were the 1885-1899 and 1908.
Model 1899
Model 1908
III. Mixed models: in between
A third group exist which is made of patterns that combined the characteristics of the 2 types above: hilts made of thick and wide branches that form a bowl.
Italian 1860, Swedish models 1854 and 1867
These were not frequent but the most striking examples come from the Scandinavian nations of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Some other countries were seemingly influenced by the looks of these novelties (the Italian 1860 sword is inspired by the Danish 1843 sword) or flirted with the idea for a few prototypes.
Danish model 1843
Italian 1860 cavalry sabre
Swedish model 1842
Among other examples that did was the Prussian 1852 sword; it is basically an Austro-German hilt but made of big iron branches that connect to themselves and cover the whole of the hand.
Other examples are the French model 1896 and 1923: breaking apart from the old tradition of branches, these have complete bowl shaped hilts made of multiple wider branches that are vertical instead of horizontal and cover the whole hand rather than half as did the previous bars hilt systems.
Model 1896
Model 1923 for cavalry officer.
The Infantry model had a simple single fuller blade whereas the cavalry models had double-fullered blades
