German tidal wave 3: Wurtt. 1817 & Saxon 1867 swords
Mar 4, 2016 21:05:07 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2016 21:05:07 GMT
Wurttemberg Cavalry General sabre 1817
I got this one on a fluke: the seller thought it was a Spanish mid 1800's sword and some ignorant doofus insinuated it was a fake Spanish sword for tourists so I offered a low price which was accepted easily but this is a truly gorgeous and expensive jewel: one specimen managed to fetch 1200 euros at a German auction house...in 2008!
A rather obscure German duchy prior to the Revolutionary wars, the kingdom of Wurttemberg eventually rose to become important state from its alliance with the French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars, with substantial territorial gains and military prestige while providing Napoleon with manpower for the ill-fated 1812 campaign against Russia. When the tide started turning in 1813 the King followed the example of Bavaria and turned against the Emperor before it was too late and this kept the kingdom unharmed after the French lost (unlike Saxony as explained below).
In 1817 under the new King Wilhelm 1, the Army was reorganized with a new generation of sword models among which this sword for the King's adjudant, bearing the rank of cavalry general. The French influence is strong as it looks much like the An XII staff officer swords; checkered ebony grip, floral-decorated hilt with traces of silver gilding and the finely detailed king's crown is encrusted in the main langet.
Being a superior officer sword one shouldn't expect this sword to be for combat but the blade seems of very sturdy design and performs very fast blows.
Total length ......................... 970 mm / 38''
Saber length ......................... 950 mm / 37''
Blade length ......................... 80 mm / 31.5''
Blade ricasso width (max.) ...... 25 mm / 1 ''
Back blade width: .................. 7 mm at base to 5 mm at half and 1mm at point
POB ..................................... 100 mm / 4''
Saxon 1867 Cavalry Trooper sword
Another important German ally to the French was Saxony who provided troops and support to Napoleon since 1806 and participated with great effort in the campaigns of 1809, 1812 and 1813. Unlike the other German states, the king remained faithful to Napoleon until 1814, despite Saxon troops defecting to the Allies at Leipzig in 1814. This cost him dearly and when the French protection was gone the kingdom was divided and lost half its population and troops to the Prussians...
Like Wurttemberg, it joined the Austrian side during the war of 1866 against Prussia and lost alongside the rest. It then followed Prussian military influence.The Saxon cavalry sabre 1867 is just the Prussian 1852 sword but with different grip form which looks more like a broomhandle. Whereas the Prussians 52 were only meant for the officers, the Saxons chose to do theirs for both troopers and officers.
The grip is leather over wood and cord wire, the Solingen made blade is the initial version before the pipeback reforms of 1879 & the presence of the ear rivets indicate the grip is also of the first generation as these ears were removed on later versions.
The outer side of the iron hilt is stamped with the unit markings3.S.R.R.2.74 becoming C.A.74: formerly the 3rd Schwere Reiter Regiment it later reformed to Carabinier regiment, first squadron (A), weapon no 74. the king's cypher can be seen as JR under crown (King Johan I, 1854-73). This regiment actively participated in the major wars of 1866, 1871 and WW1.
This sword is brutal! It is heavy but not nose-heavy like later models and packs a deadly blow either as cut or thrust. The grip form is comfortable and allows for optimal performance.
BTW it turns out Cold Steel got it all wrong with their 1852: the grip form, the wire cord, the Saxon king Albert's cypher...they did the later post 1879 pipeback officers model instead!
Total length ......................... 1050 mm / 41''
Saber length ......................... 1000 mm / 39.5''
Blade length ......................... 84 mm / 33''
Blade ricasso width (max.) ...... 32 mm / 1 1/4''
Back blade width: ................... 8 mm at base to 5 mm at half and 3mm at point
POB ..................................... 150 mm / 6''
I got this one on a fluke: the seller thought it was a Spanish mid 1800's sword and some ignorant doofus insinuated it was a fake Spanish sword for tourists so I offered a low price which was accepted easily but this is a truly gorgeous and expensive jewel: one specimen managed to fetch 1200 euros at a German auction house...in 2008!
A rather obscure German duchy prior to the Revolutionary wars, the kingdom of Wurttemberg eventually rose to become important state from its alliance with the French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars, with substantial territorial gains and military prestige while providing Napoleon with manpower for the ill-fated 1812 campaign against Russia. When the tide started turning in 1813 the King followed the example of Bavaria and turned against the Emperor before it was too late and this kept the kingdom unharmed after the French lost (unlike Saxony as explained below).
In 1817 under the new King Wilhelm 1, the Army was reorganized with a new generation of sword models among which this sword for the King's adjudant, bearing the rank of cavalry general. The French influence is strong as it looks much like the An XII staff officer swords; checkered ebony grip, floral-decorated hilt with traces of silver gilding and the finely detailed king's crown is encrusted in the main langet.
Being a superior officer sword one shouldn't expect this sword to be for combat but the blade seems of very sturdy design and performs very fast blows.
Total length ......................... 970 mm / 38''
Saber length ......................... 950 mm / 37''
Blade length ......................... 80 mm / 31.5''
Blade ricasso width (max.) ...... 25 mm / 1 ''
Back blade width: .................. 7 mm at base to 5 mm at half and 1mm at point
POB ..................................... 100 mm / 4''
Saxon 1867 Cavalry Trooper sword
Another important German ally to the French was Saxony who provided troops and support to Napoleon since 1806 and participated with great effort in the campaigns of 1809, 1812 and 1813. Unlike the other German states, the king remained faithful to Napoleon until 1814, despite Saxon troops defecting to the Allies at Leipzig in 1814. This cost him dearly and when the French protection was gone the kingdom was divided and lost half its population and troops to the Prussians...
Like Wurttemberg, it joined the Austrian side during the war of 1866 against Prussia and lost alongside the rest. It then followed Prussian military influence.The Saxon cavalry sabre 1867 is just the Prussian 1852 sword but with different grip form which looks more like a broomhandle. Whereas the Prussians 52 were only meant for the officers, the Saxons chose to do theirs for both troopers and officers.
The grip is leather over wood and cord wire, the Solingen made blade is the initial version before the pipeback reforms of 1879 & the presence of the ear rivets indicate the grip is also of the first generation as these ears were removed on later versions.
The outer side of the iron hilt is stamped with the unit markings
This sword is brutal! It is heavy but not nose-heavy like later models and packs a deadly blow either as cut or thrust. The grip form is comfortable and allows for optimal performance.
BTW it turns out Cold Steel got it all wrong with their 1852: the grip form, the wire cord, the Saxon king Albert's cypher...they did the later post 1879 pipeback officers model instead!
Total length ......................... 1050 mm / 41''
Saber length ......................... 1000 mm / 39.5''
Blade length ......................... 84 mm / 33''
Blade ricasso width (max.) ...... 32 mm / 1 1/4''
Back blade width: ................... 8 mm at base to 5 mm at half and 3mm at point
POB ..................................... 150 mm / 6''