Italian Model 1855 officer sword
Feb 16, 2018 21:52:32 GMT
Post by Pino on Feb 16, 2018 21:52:32 GMT
Collecting Italian swords can be a very confusing thing; not only is its post-Napoleonic history troublesome but finding sources for background of specific models, most of whom are exclusively in Italian, is very hard to find. Let's start with the rather easily encountered 1855 officer sword.
A 1855 and above, a variant
The Model 1855 officer sword was the upgrade of an older type of sword: the M1833 for mounted artillery, itself a very interesting throwback model of an old era with its typical hussar hilt.
Just like the '33 model, many will think at first sight that this was a sword primarily for cavalry because of its hilt BUT it was intended to be issued to officers of all horse units including the Alpine/mountain units and, for some time, to the 1st carabinieri, the only unit that didn’t get it were the Bersaglieri who had their own model back then.
The 1855 was created just a few years before the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 and for a nation not yet unified it is surprising to see how well standardization was kind of followed throughout the different states despite having no single proper regulation: a M1855 from Naples, for example, will differ in a couple of things from its counterpart made in Piedmont or Savoy; grips and blade shapes will also have customization or personal engravings, all of which is typical of officer whims but in the end the basic form remains untouched so you know a 1855 when you see one. Such is the wonder of the Italian system.
The hilt was made entirely of iron, of a single P-shaped branch stirrup hilt with a slot for the sword-knot; the rectangular side langets extended past the ribbed ebony grip. The pommel nut was an octagonal shaped screw used to disassemble the sword. The blade was kind of a novelty at the time because at its end section the central fuller made way to two smaller ones and extended all the way to the clipped point, this was, and still is, a very pretty feature!
The double-ringed iron scabbard was in exchange pretty simple and straightforward: aside from the opening throat for the langets to enter and fix the sword there is nothing else to cover.
Close-up of the blade, standard blades were almost always etched with generic engravings, some officers added the State flag or named their city or personal date to commemorate something dear to them.
The famous clipped point with double fullers, very Italian and typical of their blades!
Most 1855 blades were made by the German firm E.F. Horster.
All in all, the design is quite breathtaking: because of the grip form and iron hilt, it kind of reminds me of a very elegant pistol.
Despite its attractive looks, it does not look like a super-efficient combat sword but then again it is an officer sword so not necessarily meant to be used that way. For parade, dress occasions and last-resort weapon it is very formidable; very light to handle and superb balance to the hand that will leave play with it for hours without wanting to let it go. This was a personal favorite years ago and now that I got one again I understand why.
Variant 1855
As I stated in the above, officers from either North or South Italy customized their models to a certain extent: here we have another version of the 1855 whose blade and grip is different from the ‘’normal’’ version.
To begin with, the blade doesn’t have the extra end fullers at the point, instead it is quite simple but also thinner and flimsier; with the right amount of reflection you can still see engravings on both sides and written text which seems to end with 1871. The grip is also different with its curly ergonomic shape; the langets stand out as opposed to the flat ones of the regular form; lastly the pommel screw is square shaped rather than octagonal and the sword knot slot is slightly smaller.
Not entirely sure what is its provenance, based on some auctions it is possible that this type of variant was from Naples but there is not much material or sources that can really confirm this. It remains a pretty nice lightweight version of a 1855 sword.
Close-up of blade
Comparison between the two blade types
SpeX
1855 Officer sword 1855 variant
weight:.....................1.05lbs / 618gr Weight:..........................1.03lbs / 565gr
POB:........................5 1/4'' / 13.5cm POB:.............................5.5'' / 14cm
Blade:......................33'' / 84cm Blade:...........................31'' / 79cm
Blade width:..............1'' / 2.5cm Blade width:...................1/8'' / 2.3cm
Sword:.....................38'' / 97cm Sword:..........................36.5'' / 93.5cm
Total:.......................39'' / 99cm Total:............................37'' / 95cm
A common ancestor
Interesting to note the similarity between this model and an older 1800's officer sword, seemingly from the state of Naples during the Napoleonic Wars. Both have a P-guard iron hilt, long backstrap and clipped point.
A fun looking scabbard drag
A 1855 and above, a variant
The Model 1855 officer sword was the upgrade of an older type of sword: the M1833 for mounted artillery, itself a very interesting throwback model of an old era with its typical hussar hilt.
Just like the '33 model, many will think at first sight that this was a sword primarily for cavalry because of its hilt BUT it was intended to be issued to officers of all horse units including the Alpine/mountain units and, for some time, to the 1st carabinieri, the only unit that didn’t get it were the Bersaglieri who had their own model back then.
The 1855 was created just a few years before the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 and for a nation not yet unified it is surprising to see how well standardization was kind of followed throughout the different states despite having no single proper regulation: a M1855 from Naples, for example, will differ in a couple of things from its counterpart made in Piedmont or Savoy; grips and blade shapes will also have customization or personal engravings, all of which is typical of officer whims but in the end the basic form remains untouched so you know a 1855 when you see one. Such is the wonder of the Italian system.
The hilt was made entirely of iron, of a single P-shaped branch stirrup hilt with a slot for the sword-knot; the rectangular side langets extended past the ribbed ebony grip. The pommel nut was an octagonal shaped screw used to disassemble the sword. The blade was kind of a novelty at the time because at its end section the central fuller made way to two smaller ones and extended all the way to the clipped point, this was, and still is, a very pretty feature!
The double-ringed iron scabbard was in exchange pretty simple and straightforward: aside from the opening throat for the langets to enter and fix the sword there is nothing else to cover.
Close-up of the blade, standard blades were almost always etched with generic engravings, some officers added the State flag or named their city or personal date to commemorate something dear to them.
The famous clipped point with double fullers, very Italian and typical of their blades!
Most 1855 blades were made by the German firm E.F. Horster.
All in all, the design is quite breathtaking: because of the grip form and iron hilt, it kind of reminds me of a very elegant pistol.
Despite its attractive looks, it does not look like a super-efficient combat sword but then again it is an officer sword so not necessarily meant to be used that way. For parade, dress occasions and last-resort weapon it is very formidable; very light to handle and superb balance to the hand that will leave play with it for hours without wanting to let it go. This was a personal favorite years ago and now that I got one again I understand why.
Variant 1855
As I stated in the above, officers from either North or South Italy customized their models to a certain extent: here we have another version of the 1855 whose blade and grip is different from the ‘’normal’’ version.
To begin with, the blade doesn’t have the extra end fullers at the point, instead it is quite simple but also thinner and flimsier; with the right amount of reflection you can still see engravings on both sides and written text which seems to end with 1871. The grip is also different with its curly ergonomic shape; the langets stand out as opposed to the flat ones of the regular form; lastly the pommel screw is square shaped rather than octagonal and the sword knot slot is slightly smaller.
Not entirely sure what is its provenance, based on some auctions it is possible that this type of variant was from Naples but there is not much material or sources that can really confirm this. It remains a pretty nice lightweight version of a 1855 sword.
Close-up of blade
Comparison between the two blade types
SpeX
1855 Officer sword 1855 variant
weight:.....................1.05lbs / 618gr Weight:..........................1.03lbs / 565gr
POB:........................5 1/4'' / 13.5cm POB:.............................5.5'' / 14cm
Blade:......................33'' / 84cm Blade:...........................31'' / 79cm
Blade width:..............1'' / 2.5cm Blade width:...................1/8'' / 2.3cm
Sword:.....................38'' / 97cm Sword:..........................36.5'' / 93.5cm
Total:.......................39'' / 99cm Total:............................37'' / 95cm
A common ancestor
Interesting to note the similarity between this model and an older 1800's officer sword, seemingly from the state of Naples during the Napoleonic Wars. Both have a P-guard iron hilt, long backstrap and clipped point.
A fun looking scabbard drag
