The German Artillery Trooper Swords 1811-1918
Jan 2, 2023 4:34:49 GMT
Post by Pino on Jan 2, 2023 4:34:49 GMT
Well it's been a time and a half since my last contribution here so, new year = new effort.
The objective of this post is just to serve as a basic ''who's who'' of the German artillery sword patterns used until 1918 (but not limited to). I expect to be do something much more detailed in a near future but until then this can help some of you wanting to know how to spot them.
It is important to note that the German Empire was some sort of federation where the Emperor was the head-of-state and Prussia acted as the main province, however 3 other big states (Bavaria, Wurttemberg and Saxony) enjoyed a certain form of autonomy that allowed them to manage their armies and equip them under their own regulations, however these had to echo certain features shared with the rest of Germany.
The artillery swords shown here are such an example where, after the unification, the states had to mirror the Imperial system by making their own versions of artillery sabres modelled after the Prussian one.
This is the list of the artillery trooper swords that were issued under formal army regulations:
1. Prussian artillery saber 1848
2. Prussian artillery saber n/a (neue art = new form)
3. Bavarian artillery sabre
4. Bavarian ersatz artillery sabre
5. Wurttemberg artillery sabre 1
6. Wurttemberg/ Saxon ''shared'' sabre
7. Saxon artillery sabre
8. German ersatz artillery sabre
Bonus:
1811 sabre
Unknown pattern sabre
The Model 1811
The 1811 ''Blucher sabre'' sabre needs little introduction, a German version of the British 1796 sword, it was used at first by the cavalry units since the 1820s before been issued to artillery and supply troops. It is easily recognizable by its massive curved blade and strong P guard shape; the scabbard shoe has a triangular form that is unique to its design.
Unit markings, both from the pre-1914 ''Old Army'':
former unit: 7.L.H.R.1.132 - 7th Landhwer Hussar Regt, Squadron no 1, weapon no 132.
Reissued: B.T.28.35 – Brucken Train (Bridging) of 28th Division, weapon no 35.
Issued: unknown date
The Model 1848
This sword was chiefly a reduced version of the 1811 sabre: it retained the same overall form but the long blade was more curvy and narrower + had the tip shaped to a spear point. The scabbard shoe form was also redesigned to have a standard form.
Normally the units markings + inspection and date stamps were found on the front of the cross hilt and in the languet. The back of the blade also had the matching date stamps.
Unit marking: 5.A.4.50
5th Feldartillerie-Rgt, Battery no 4, weapon no 50
Issued: 1848 (Emperor Frederik-William IV)
The New Model (Neue Art)
Sometime after the German unification the Prussian N/a = neue art (new model) sabre started to appear; since there is no date designation it has no model/pattern name.
Again this sabre is the 1848 model but whose blade was shortened and scabbard redesigned to have a fixed ring and lateral band; I suspect the original form had a scabbard with 2 rings that was modified in 1896.
Grips were made at first of black leather, then bakelite/rubber and finally wood. Since 1848 the unit markings were on the crosshilt but the date was now only found on the back of the blade along with the inspection marks . These were now found on all the fittings of this model (ferrule, backstrap & tang nut)
After WWI many of these returned to their former roots and were issued to cavalry regiments.
Unit marking: L.M.II.72.113
Leichte (Light) Munitions-Kolonne 72, II Armee-Korps (Prussian), weapon no 113.
Issued: 1880 (Emperor William I)
The Bavarian model I
The Bavarian artillery sword, much like the Prussian model, also had no name designation but surely appeared just after it in order to follow Imperial standards.
This is also a sword whose shape came from an older model, the 1813 light cavalry sabre who had a C shaped hilt without langets. This hilt was kept the same but the blade was reduced in length and the tip made as spear-point.
The scabbard was also shortened and with single ring; the throat was made with a widening mouth & the shoe was made rounded. This was the only model of the bunch whose scabbard ring could move.
Unit marking: 5.R.A.3.54
Kgl. Bayer. 5th Reserve Feldartillerie-Rgt (König Alfons XIII. von Spanien). Battery no. 3. Weapon 54.
Issued: 1914 (King Ludwig III)
The Bavarian model II
During WWI or perhaps before, possibly because of equipment shortages, some obsolete swords were taken from depots and converted to modern standards, one such thing was this Bavarian M1826 cavalry trooper sword whose branches were removed so it could coexist with the current artillery pattern. Only the hilt was changed and strangely enough the blade wasn't shortened. My specimen was given to a supply unit.
Unit marking: B.2.T.F.7
Bavarian 2nd Train Abteilung Fuhrpark-kolonne, weapon no 7.
Issued: unknown
The Wurttemberg Model I
Wurttemberg adopted it's own pattern which was pretty much the same thing as the former except the grip was now made of celluloid and ribbed. It also had a resemblance with the Uhlan sabre 1873 (those who had French type blades).
Unlike other swords, the markings and date could be on the ricasso instead of being found in the back of the blade.
The other thing that differed was the scabbard shape, the throat was a joint piece attached with 2 screws like the KD89 one and on whose mouth the matching number was found. It's drag had a wavy/guitar shape, very similar to British scabbards btw.
Unit marking: 49.A.5.44
(3rd) Wurttemberg Feldartillerie-Rgt Nr.49, Battery no 5, weapon no 44
Issued: 1883 (King Charles I)
The Wurttemberg & Saxon ''Interim model''
For some reason the states of Wurttemberg and Saxony at one point shared a ''temporary sword'' whose form was similar to the Prussian though without the languets and having a wider, broom shaped grip. The only way to guess the provenance was by reading the unit markings.
Unit marking: A.M.XIII.4.86
Artillerie-munition Kolonne 4, XIII Armee-Korps (Wurttemberg). Weapon no 86
Issued: 1897 (King William II)
The Saxon Model
The Saxon model continued with the same design as the interim model only it had no ear rivets on the broom-like grip, which was made of celluloid or bakelite or rubber. It kept the same type of blade and scabbard as the Prussian version.
Unit marking: 1920 + 23.R.D.8.
The date 1920 means it was reassigned during the Weimar era to HQ, 23rd (Reserve) Dragoon regt, weapon no 8.
Issued: 1901 (King Albert)
The WWI Ersatz Model
This sabre is the one that strikes most for having a completely different shape but it is very likely this was a sword made for export to Romania whose shipment was halted and reissued to German units the same way the Bavarian converted sword had been.
The sword had a C guard with a pistol grip made of bakelite and held by 2 rivets. The pommel was similar to the KD89 one with crab-eye tang nut and the pipeback blade well curved.
The scabbard throat was held by 2 screws on each side like was the Wurttemberg model.
Unit marking: F.A.R.55.5.55
(2nd )Thüringisches Feldartillerie-Rgt Nr.55, Battery 5, weapon no 55.
Issued: unknown date
? Experimental Model ?
Last one is a possible intruder that may not be artillery/supply issued, still because it looks like the other swords I've decided to include it here but it is still unclear what unit used it. I recall vaguely having read it was an experimental sword for the cavalry which makes sense because the blade is too long for artillery service and is pretty heavy, like the aforementioned Bavarian 1826 cavalry sword that was reissued.
It is a weird mix of all the sword above, which is a dovehead pommel and a ribbed celluloid grip without rivets or languets, a massive lightly curved pipeback blade dated 1885.
The scabbard had a single loose ring with a round drag and steps-shaped throat.
It is possible the blade came from a 1879 cavalry trooper sword and paired with some other surplus swords that were available when it was made but I have seen 4 of these and they all had these same specific fittings so it was really made this way.
Unit marking: none
Issued: 1885 (Emperor William I)
STATS
The objective of this post is just to serve as a basic ''who's who'' of the German artillery sword patterns used until 1918 (but not limited to). I expect to be do something much more detailed in a near future but until then this can help some of you wanting to know how to spot them.
It is important to note that the German Empire was some sort of federation where the Emperor was the head-of-state and Prussia acted as the main province, however 3 other big states (Bavaria, Wurttemberg and Saxony) enjoyed a certain form of autonomy that allowed them to manage their armies and equip them under their own regulations, however these had to echo certain features shared with the rest of Germany.
The artillery swords shown here are such an example where, after the unification, the states had to mirror the Imperial system by making their own versions of artillery sabres modelled after the Prussian one.
This is the list of the artillery trooper swords that were issued under formal army regulations:
1. Prussian artillery saber 1848
2. Prussian artillery saber n/a (neue art = new form)
3. Bavarian artillery sabre
4. Bavarian ersatz artillery sabre
5. Wurttemberg artillery sabre 1
6. Wurttemberg/ Saxon ''shared'' sabre
7. Saxon artillery sabre
8. German ersatz artillery sabre
Bonus:
1811 sabre
Unknown pattern sabre
The Model 1811
The 1811 ''Blucher sabre'' sabre needs little introduction, a German version of the British 1796 sword, it was used at first by the cavalry units since the 1820s before been issued to artillery and supply troops. It is easily recognizable by its massive curved blade and strong P guard shape; the scabbard shoe has a triangular form that is unique to its design.
Unit markings, both from the pre-1914 ''Old Army'':
former unit: 7.L.H.R.1.132 - 7th Landhwer Hussar Regt, Squadron no 1, weapon no 132.
Reissued: B.T.28.35 – Brucken Train (Bridging) of 28th Division, weapon no 35.
Issued: unknown date
The Model 1848
This sword was chiefly a reduced version of the 1811 sabre: it retained the same overall form but the long blade was more curvy and narrower + had the tip shaped to a spear point. The scabbard shoe form was also redesigned to have a standard form.
Normally the units markings + inspection and date stamps were found on the front of the cross hilt and in the languet. The back of the blade also had the matching date stamps.
Unit marking: 5.A.4.50
5th Feldartillerie-Rgt, Battery no 4, weapon no 50
Issued: 1848 (Emperor Frederik-William IV)
The New Model (Neue Art)
Sometime after the German unification the Prussian N/a = neue art (new model) sabre started to appear; since there is no date designation it has no model/pattern name.
Again this sabre is the 1848 model but whose blade was shortened and scabbard redesigned to have a fixed ring and lateral band; I suspect the original form had a scabbard with 2 rings that was modified in 1896.
Grips were made at first of black leather, then bakelite/rubber and finally wood. Since 1848 the unit markings were on the crosshilt but the date was now only found on the back of the blade along with the inspection marks . These were now found on all the fittings of this model (ferrule, backstrap & tang nut)
After WWI many of these returned to their former roots and were issued to cavalry regiments.
Unit marking: L.M.II.72.113
Leichte (Light) Munitions-Kolonne 72, II Armee-Korps (Prussian), weapon no 113.
Issued: 1880 (Emperor William I)
The Bavarian model I
The Bavarian artillery sword, much like the Prussian model, also had no name designation but surely appeared just after it in order to follow Imperial standards.
This is also a sword whose shape came from an older model, the 1813 light cavalry sabre who had a C shaped hilt without langets. This hilt was kept the same but the blade was reduced in length and the tip made as spear-point.
The scabbard was also shortened and with single ring; the throat was made with a widening mouth & the shoe was made rounded. This was the only model of the bunch whose scabbard ring could move.
Unit marking: 5.R.A.3.54
Kgl. Bayer. 5th Reserve Feldartillerie-Rgt (König Alfons XIII. von Spanien). Battery no. 3. Weapon 54.
Issued: 1914 (King Ludwig III)
The Bavarian model II
During WWI or perhaps before, possibly because of equipment shortages, some obsolete swords were taken from depots and converted to modern standards, one such thing was this Bavarian M1826 cavalry trooper sword whose branches were removed so it could coexist with the current artillery pattern. Only the hilt was changed and strangely enough the blade wasn't shortened. My specimen was given to a supply unit.
Unit marking: B.2.T.F.7
Bavarian 2nd Train Abteilung Fuhrpark-kolonne, weapon no 7.
Issued: unknown
The Wurttemberg Model I
Wurttemberg adopted it's own pattern which was pretty much the same thing as the former except the grip was now made of celluloid and ribbed. It also had a resemblance with the Uhlan sabre 1873 (those who had French type blades).
Unlike other swords, the markings and date could be on the ricasso instead of being found in the back of the blade.
The other thing that differed was the scabbard shape, the throat was a joint piece attached with 2 screws like the KD89 one and on whose mouth the matching number was found. It's drag had a wavy/guitar shape, very similar to British scabbards btw.
Unit marking: 49.A.5.44
(3rd) Wurttemberg Feldartillerie-Rgt Nr.49, Battery no 5, weapon no 44
Issued: 1883 (King Charles I)
The Wurttemberg & Saxon ''Interim model''
For some reason the states of Wurttemberg and Saxony at one point shared a ''temporary sword'' whose form was similar to the Prussian though without the languets and having a wider, broom shaped grip. The only way to guess the provenance was by reading the unit markings.
Unit marking: A.M.XIII.4.86
Artillerie-munition Kolonne 4, XIII Armee-Korps (Wurttemberg). Weapon no 86
Issued: 1897 (King William II)
The Saxon Model
The Saxon model continued with the same design as the interim model only it had no ear rivets on the broom-like grip, which was made of celluloid or bakelite or rubber. It kept the same type of blade and scabbard as the Prussian version.
Unit marking: 1920 + 23.R.D.8.
The date 1920 means it was reassigned during the Weimar era to HQ, 23rd (Reserve) Dragoon regt, weapon no 8.
Issued: 1901 (King Albert)
The WWI Ersatz Model
This sabre is the one that strikes most for having a completely different shape but it is very likely this was a sword made for export to Romania whose shipment was halted and reissued to German units the same way the Bavarian converted sword had been.
The sword had a C guard with a pistol grip made of bakelite and held by 2 rivets. The pommel was similar to the KD89 one with crab-eye tang nut and the pipeback blade well curved.
The scabbard throat was held by 2 screws on each side like was the Wurttemberg model.
Unit marking: F.A.R.55.5.55
(2nd )Thüringisches Feldartillerie-Rgt Nr.55, Battery 5, weapon no 55.
Issued: unknown date
? Experimental Model ?
Last one is a possible intruder that may not be artillery/supply issued, still because it looks like the other swords I've decided to include it here but it is still unclear what unit used it. I recall vaguely having read it was an experimental sword for the cavalry which makes sense because the blade is too long for artillery service and is pretty heavy, like the aforementioned Bavarian 1826 cavalry sword that was reissued.
It is a weird mix of all the sword above, which is a dovehead pommel and a ribbed celluloid grip without rivets or languets, a massive lightly curved pipeback blade dated 1885.
The scabbard had a single loose ring with a round drag and steps-shaped throat.
It is possible the blade came from a 1879 cavalry trooper sword and paired with some other surplus swords that were available when it was made but I have seen 4 of these and they all had these same specific fittings so it was really made this way.
Unit marking: none
Issued: 1885 (Emperor William I)
STATS
