Empire Costume Hussar Sabre
Apr 22, 2015 2:14:39 GMT
Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 2:14:39 GMT
Disclaimer
I bought this one from Dave Kelly to find out how good the line of sabres offered by Empire Costume stand out compared to the others. Transaction with Dave was smooth and fast, as expected and he told me before receiving the package that the sword's handling was not impressive but I knew what I was up to and for the price it was sold for, it was still a good opportunity to compare it.
I have a LC sword whose shape is very similar and who served in the same time line as the reproduction sword so it was a good opportunity to find out how they can fare. Since the repro has a beefier blade a more combat ready sword should be involved and choose the Austrian 1803 for LC as it was a very good candidate to compare in terms of dynamics.
Historical background
Empire Costume sell this sabre under the very generic term of Hussar sabre which it is but this type/form is the LC model 1786 which was an upgraded offspring of the 1776 model for Hussars. Trooper swords were manufactured in army workshops and officers had the freedom to purchase their models from cutlers and sword sellers where the blades could be engraved with whatever motto or decorations wanted by the buyer.
This model saw extensive service in the later years of the Ancien Regime, during the Wars of the Revolution and remained in service under the Consulate and Empire (and inspired the Guard Mounted Chasseurs's own sabre) until circa 1810-1812 when it was definitely replaced by the LC sabre with branches (An IX).
In the following crisis of the post-Russian campaign of 1812 new Guard cavalry units were formed such as the Gardes d'Honneurs, Eclaireurs and Krakus whose officers and trumpeters were equipped with surplus and private purchased weapons, among these the 1786 sabre and similar iron-made stirrup hilts, of which I have an example and comes in handy for a comparison.
Stats and specs
Weight with scabbard:
1. AN IV: 3.155lbs / 1801gr
2. Hussar officer: 3.02lbs / 1415gr
4. Austrian 1803: 3.146lbs / 1777gr
Weight out of scabbard:
1. AN IV: 2.073lbs / 1116gr
2. Hussar officer: 1.064lbs / 636gr
3. Austrian 1803: 1.15lbs / 880gr
Weight of scabbard:
1. AN IV: 1.08lbs / 685gr
2. Hussar officer: 1.114lbs / 779gr
3. Austrian 1803: 1.156lbs / 897gr
POB:
Thickness of blade (1st third, 2nd third & 3rd third + last 5'' of point)
1. Hussar replica: 5/16'' (8mm); 4/16'' (6mm); 3/16'' (4mm) to 2/16'' (2mm) to end of tip
2. Hussar officer: 5/16'' (8mm); 3/16'' (5mm); 2/16'' (2.5mm) to 1/16'' (1mm) to end of tip
3. Austrian 1803: 5/16'' (8mm); 4/16'' (6mm); 3/16'' (4mm) to 1/16'' (1.2mm) to end of tip
Width of blade at ricasso then at half and before point
1. Hussar replica: 1 1/2'' 37mm; 1 3/8'' (35mm); 1 3/16'' (30mm)
2. Hussar officer: 1 3/16'' (30mm); 1'' (25mm); 1'' (25mm)
3. Austrian 1803: 1 5/16'' (32mm); 1 3/16'' (30mm); 1 2/16'' (28mm)
Sword length
1. Hussar replica: 37'' (94cm)
2. Hussar officer: 38'' (96cm)
3. Austrian 1803: 38.5'' (98cm)
Blade length
Total length
Overall review
Blade, hilt & scabbard quality
As one could expect for a modern repro this is beautifully executed and fit and finish is gorgeous. The hilt is the standard stirrup hilt made of brass, the grip is wire ribbed wood covered with black leather which is large enough for comfortable grip.
The curved blade is engraved with floral and military decorations, often referred to as ''grotesque'', the back side reads Jean Knecht le Jeune fabricant a Solingen and the both sides of the blade is engraved with the old medieval and Christian knightly motto Recte Faciendo Neminem Timeas that translates roughly to : “By doing right, shall fear no one” ; above stands a hussar and the traditional Vivat Hussar motto, a statement of the owner's faithfulness & pride of being an hussar.
Back of the blade:
Both sides of the blade are engraved:
Floral decorations, frequently seen on period swords`:
As a whole the sword is well done and faithful to what a real model would look like.
The scabbard is made of wood covered with black leather and reinforced with two brass fittings on front and end parts. The mouth has the correct spacings to grab the langets and prevent the blade from rattling once sheathed, this is done correctly. The drag is of a big iron horseshoe.
Flaws
There are not really except for a few stains or tiny cracks that I noticed near the tip of the blade on one side only. I'm not sure if its pitting due to humidity, other form of corrosion or blade alloy composition.
Aside for that I don't find much faults or things that need correction. The craftsmanship of the sword is generally very satisfying.
Handling performance vs originals
As to be expected from possible Indian repros, it is not remarkably close to what a standard officer sabre would handle or perform and the same problems seen on other Weaponedge swords appear here: overbuilt, nose heavy and slow blade.
Both the original periods swords handle well: their blades are much more thoroughly manufactured, have more distal taper and are much more flexible.
The 1803 is the more combat-oriented weapon, despite its iron hilt and its POB located farther but it manages to handle much better than the repro due to better balance because of the right distribution of weight to the pommel, blade and cross-guard.
The LC officer sabre is a real charm being the lightest of the bunch, everything in fact is light and agile, this is due to its slimmer blade but also better quality craftsmanship as expected for officer sabres yet it still manages to remain a respectable combat weapon. This is what the repro should have felt like but instead it handles twice the weight of this sabre.
The repro's POB is located at reasonable distance when you check at the stats but this is wasted by the blade being wider so heavier, having less taper than the rest and not as flexible makes this replica harder to wield for cuts although for thrusts it does a decent performance.
Views of the blades taper
Conclusion
Very good looks and historically accurate are the most positive points but still disappointing handling. To their credit Empire Costume do say on their description that the sword is not really intended for combat so at least you know what to expect but still given the price I can't recommend another sword that would be a 300$+ display weapon.
At least and despite not being for combat, compared to the MH 1796 sabre it handles a bit better, but only just a bit. There are far worse swords than this but it's still not enough to be a decent repro of a light cavalry sabre.
The quest for a nice Napoleonic sabre goes on I guess but after a certain time of waiting to see good display swords that handles like originals, I'm gonna stay away from Napoleonics for a couple more years.
Extra: the making of the Armae (Republican) version of the same sword
I bought this one from Dave Kelly to find out how good the line of sabres offered by Empire Costume stand out compared to the others. Transaction with Dave was smooth and fast, as expected and he told me before receiving the package that the sword's handling was not impressive but I knew what I was up to and for the price it was sold for, it was still a good opportunity to compare it.
I have a LC sword whose shape is very similar and who served in the same time line as the reproduction sword so it was a good opportunity to find out how they can fare. Since the repro has a beefier blade a more combat ready sword should be involved and choose the Austrian 1803 for LC as it was a very good candidate to compare in terms of dynamics.
Historical background
Empire Costume sell this sabre under the very generic term of Hussar sabre which it is but this type/form is the LC model 1786 which was an upgraded offspring of the 1776 model for Hussars. Trooper swords were manufactured in army workshops and officers had the freedom to purchase their models from cutlers and sword sellers where the blades could be engraved with whatever motto or decorations wanted by the buyer.
This model saw extensive service in the later years of the Ancien Regime, during the Wars of the Revolution and remained in service under the Consulate and Empire (and inspired the Guard Mounted Chasseurs's own sabre) until circa 1810-1812 when it was definitely replaced by the LC sabre with branches (An IX).
In the following crisis of the post-Russian campaign of 1812 new Guard cavalry units were formed such as the Gardes d'Honneurs, Eclaireurs and Krakus whose officers and trumpeters were equipped with surplus and private purchased weapons, among these the 1786 sabre and similar iron-made stirrup hilts, of which I have an example and comes in handy for a comparison.
Stats and specs
Weight with scabbard:
1. AN IV: 3.155lbs / 1801gr
2. Hussar officer: 3.02lbs / 1415gr
4. Austrian 1803: 3.146lbs / 1777gr
Weight out of scabbard:
1. AN IV: 2.073lbs / 1116gr
2. Hussar officer: 1.064lbs / 636gr
3. Austrian 1803: 1.15lbs / 880gr
Weight of scabbard:
1. AN IV: 1.08lbs / 685gr
2. Hussar officer: 1.114lbs / 779gr
3. Austrian 1803: 1.156lbs / 897gr
POB:
Thickness of blade (1st third, 2nd third & 3rd third + last 5'' of point)
1. Hussar replica: 5/16'' (8mm); 4/16'' (6mm); 3/16'' (4mm) to 2/16'' (2mm) to end of tip
2. Hussar officer: 5/16'' (8mm); 3/16'' (5mm); 2/16'' (2.5mm) to 1/16'' (1mm) to end of tip
3. Austrian 1803: 5/16'' (8mm); 4/16'' (6mm); 3/16'' (4mm) to 1/16'' (1.2mm) to end of tip
Width of blade at ricasso then at half and before point
1. Hussar replica: 1 1/2'' 37mm; 1 3/8'' (35mm); 1 3/16'' (30mm)
2. Hussar officer: 1 3/16'' (30mm); 1'' (25mm); 1'' (25mm)
3. Austrian 1803: 1 5/16'' (32mm); 1 3/16'' (30mm); 1 2/16'' (28mm)
Sword length
1. Hussar replica: 37'' (94cm)
2. Hussar officer: 38'' (96cm)
3. Austrian 1803: 38.5'' (98cm)
Blade length
Total length
Overall review
Blade, hilt & scabbard quality
As one could expect for a modern repro this is beautifully executed and fit and finish is gorgeous. The hilt is the standard stirrup hilt made of brass, the grip is wire ribbed wood covered with black leather which is large enough for comfortable grip.
The curved blade is engraved with floral and military decorations, often referred to as ''grotesque'', the back side reads Jean Knecht le Jeune fabricant a Solingen and the both sides of the blade is engraved with the old medieval and Christian knightly motto Recte Faciendo Neminem Timeas that translates roughly to : “By doing right, shall fear no one” ; above stands a hussar and the traditional Vivat Hussar motto, a statement of the owner's faithfulness & pride of being an hussar.
Back of the blade:
Both sides of the blade are engraved:
Floral decorations, frequently seen on period swords`:
As a whole the sword is well done and faithful to what a real model would look like.
The scabbard is made of wood covered with black leather and reinforced with two brass fittings on front and end parts. The mouth has the correct spacings to grab the langets and prevent the blade from rattling once sheathed, this is done correctly. The drag is of a big iron horseshoe.
Flaws
There are not really except for a few stains or tiny cracks that I noticed near the tip of the blade on one side only. I'm not sure if its pitting due to humidity, other form of corrosion or blade alloy composition.
Aside for that I don't find much faults or things that need correction. The craftsmanship of the sword is generally very satisfying.
Handling performance vs originals
As to be expected from possible Indian repros, it is not remarkably close to what a standard officer sabre would handle or perform and the same problems seen on other Weaponedge swords appear here: overbuilt, nose heavy and slow blade.
Both the original periods swords handle well: their blades are much more thoroughly manufactured, have more distal taper and are much more flexible.
The 1803 is the more combat-oriented weapon, despite its iron hilt and its POB located farther but it manages to handle much better than the repro due to better balance because of the right distribution of weight to the pommel, blade and cross-guard.
The LC officer sabre is a real charm being the lightest of the bunch, everything in fact is light and agile, this is due to its slimmer blade but also better quality craftsmanship as expected for officer sabres yet it still manages to remain a respectable combat weapon. This is what the repro should have felt like but instead it handles twice the weight of this sabre.
The repro's POB is located at reasonable distance when you check at the stats but this is wasted by the blade being wider so heavier, having less taper than the rest and not as flexible makes this replica harder to wield for cuts although for thrusts it does a decent performance.
Views of the blades taper
Conclusion
Very good looks and historically accurate are the most positive points but still disappointing handling. To their credit Empire Costume do say on their description that the sword is not really intended for combat so at least you know what to expect but still given the price I can't recommend another sword that would be a 300$+ display weapon.
At least and despite not being for combat, compared to the MH 1796 sabre it handles a bit better, but only just a bit. There are far worse swords than this but it's still not enough to be a decent repro of a light cavalry sabre.
The quest for a nice Napoleonic sabre goes on I guess but after a certain time of waiting to see good display swords that handles like originals, I'm gonna stay away from Napoleonics for a couple more years.
Extra: the making of the Armae (Republican) version of the same sword