My 1811 Blucher Saber: What I know and What I'd like to know
Feb 16, 2024 19:08:23 GMT
Post by edm on Feb 16, 2024 19:08:23 GMT
Hello, all,
As per the subject line, I have an 1811 Blucher saber. I've researched it and deciphered most of the markings. There are a few, however, that don't fit anything I've found (including viewing several very informative Youtube videos). Below are some thumbnails of the saber (click and you should get a full sized image) along with my analysis (and questions). Hopefully, the things I do know (or think I know) will prove useful to anyone looking for information on a similar weapon (at the very least). And with luck, maybe I'll get the answers to a few things I'm still guessing about.
First, the overall thing:
The blade is just a tad over 32" (just about right)
The blade and scabbard together.
Now, here are the things I know (please let me know if I got any of these wrong):
KNOWN: UNIT HISTORY
Langet Scabbard
Langet: R.P.C. 4. 42 Reserve Provison Kolone 4, Weapon 42 Reserve Supply Column 4, Weapon 42
Scabbard: R.P.C. 7. 44 Reserve Provison Kolune 7, Weapon 44 Reserve Supply Column 7, Weapon 44
KNOWN: DEPOT MARKS
Scabbard Ring Backstrap Guard Front
Scabbard Ring: 345= Inventory Number S= Spandau Depot 3= thousands. Repaired at Spandau Depot, Inventory #3,345
Backstrap and Guard: Crown over Letter (R or E): Depot Mark (indicates hilt used in repair/refit). R= Rendburg; E= Erfurt
UNKNOWN (GUESSED AT): OTHER DEPOT MARKS (?) AND DATE (?)
The markings on the right side of the crossguard (above left) are indicative of depot/repair marks. According to the sources I've seen, they should follow the same convention as those on the scabbard: A number (up to 999) followed by a letter (indicating the depot) and then a single digit (representing thousands). However, the mark on this hilt does not conform. It is only a letter and a two digit number (M 33). I'm guessing that this is still a depot mark, but either a nonstandard version or one that pre-dates the standardized systems that are documented. I'm guessing that the letter would still stand for the depot (Munster), but am not sure what "33" would mean. This brings us to the blade...
SPINE OF BLADE
The only marking on the blade is on the spine (as depicted). The dimple (looks like an apostrophe above and to the right) seems to be a stamp, but much more than that I can't tell. Sources I've seen suggest several options. According to some sources, early blades (pre-1830) have either no markings or only depot marks. Given that the number on the spine (33) matches the depot mark on the hilt, and there is no accompanying maker's mark, I'm guessing that this is not a date but a depot mark indicating that the hilt and the blade were mated at the "M" depot. Other sources indicate various other conventions for date marks, but this blade conforms to none of those (three digits or two digits plus maker's mark, two digits plus Royal Cipher and/or Crown).
So, in summary, here is what I don't know (but am guessing). This is either an early (pre-1830) blade, or it is dated 1833. I'm leaning towards the early (pre-1830) given what appears to be a corresponding a depot mark on the cross guard. Which brings up my second surmise:that the M 33 on the guard is a depot/inventory mark and not a date. (I'd be very interested to hear if anyone knows how to decipher this particular alpha-numeric).
I would welcome any input from anyone out there who has knowledge of the 1811 Blucher and/or Prussian markings.
Thanks for any attention given!
Best, Ed M