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Post by Dave Kelly on Jul 23, 2020 14:51:06 GMT
Hello All, I originally posted on the Beginner thread, and a helpful member suggested that I re-post here... I'm a move-manager, and the family I'm working for has a sword we can't seem to identify. We think it’s European. The blade features fine engraving on about 50% of the length on both sides (different designs) and along the edge/spine (leaf/vine design). The scabbard is in good condition. We see no stamps/makers marks. Not even at the very top of the blade where it meets the guard. It has suffered some damage (one branch from the hilt has broken off). I hope these photos are helpful but let me know if I need to upload more/different:
Would you folks be so kind as to give me your thoughts on what it might be? Many thanks in advance,
-Kendra
A few full sword pic of the all of the saber would be useful. How long is the blade? It has the look of a french light cavalry officer saber. The top bar of the 3 bar half basket guard has been broken off. It is of the Napoleonic era 1792-1820; generically model overlap Napoleons presence. Unmarked it is probably a custom made individually contracted sword. Many come from Solingen. French syndicate smithies signed a contract that permitted them to privately sell up to 15% of their annual output, so it could still be from Klingenthal. Value, without provenence will be low, with the broken guard.
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Post by Dave Kelly on Jul 22, 2020 0:58:21 GMT
How long is the blade? Can't read the makers mark on the scabbard. ( J. Peu or Feu, from????) The scabbard drag is unusual. Not what I'd expect on a Spanish saber. (Belgian?) Don't have any experience with the sword. Weight, balance and blade stiffness are issues with late period pieces.
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Post by Dave Kelly on Jul 21, 2020 0:26:02 GMT
The last line in that article from the doctor: "Anyhow they squealed enough when they got it". Cold Steel makes a similar MAA version that includes shaft and can be had for a little over $30ish. Wanna bet there is a windlass stamp on the lance head? ;)
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Post by Dave Kelly on Jul 20, 2020 13:15:54 GMT
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Post by Dave Kelly on Jul 9, 2020 16:58:17 GMT
It should arrive tomorrow. I'll tell my first impressions in the New Aquisitions thread. Some forumists quitting the forum perhaps think we're not worth to see their precious contributions any more. In Dave's case it was a unfortunate misunderstanding afaik. The Windlass Christus Imperat Rapier is more authoritative, but the Cavalier is the stiffer of the two blades. Both have exceptional good looks. Considering the price of Albions they are a bargain and they come with sheaths
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Post by Dave Kelly on Jun 20, 2020 1:12:03 GMT
Surprisingly I got my Guards LC for 700.00. 1200.00 for my Line LC and Several body parts for my Guards HC.
P-)
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Post by Dave Kelly on Jun 19, 2020 22:53:13 GMT
Didn't know that Jordans E.C. sabre broke. Bummer. Any idea when this happened? He mentioned it about a month ago but it wasn't long after purchase. Guinhut was devastated and took immediate action to satisfy his client. (Oh wait, then I woke up...)
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Post by Dave Kelly on Jun 19, 2020 22:13:43 GMT
I know most modern day replicas don't handle as well as originals. And as I haven't located any originals online for sale, I'm going to go with sourcing a replica. The question then becomes who makes the best version of the french imperial light cavalry sabre? As I understand it, Universal comes in a lil on the soft side from what I have seen on Skall's vids regarding their products. Empire is more for display (so I have heard) Is Military Heritage better? Heard they were related to Universal. Photo included to help avoid any confusion. If you want to cut. Buy the Cold Steel LC. They misnamed it, but it is an ANXI type. For the price the temper will cut without worrying about failure and it comes sharpened. The most accurately handling of the line ANXI was the recent Empire Costume LC. India does not issue a sharpened blade because of their laws. Temper in production is an issue. SBG, J Williams sharpened and cut with his and the blade failed. I thought he said the foible snapped. Yves Guinhut finally admitted he has his stuff produced in India but will not say by who. I don't seriously trust any of the shops as to who actually does their forging. The issue is how deep you want to invest. Antiques will run you 1200-1600.00. You can buy multiple replicas and save overhead. For different reasons I've done both. PS the first pic here is the Weapons Edge India Imperial Guards LC saber. It's of an older vintage Hungarian model type. WEI and Universal Sword India are run by the Chouhan family cousins. USI has won the publicity war in the last 6 years and is marketed in the US by Kult of Athena. I believe that Military Heritage is still using WEI. ( Cold steel primarily uses Dynasty Forge China and Windlass Steelcraft.)
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Post by Dave Kelly on Jun 13, 2020 12:27:52 GMT
Thank you Uhlan, Sword just arrived and it's in great condition One thing that's surprising for me,as a total beginner who never held on, is that the guard is solid steel from what I can tell and quite heavy. St Etienne has a long staggered history of state production of swords. The 1882 infantry sword is exceptional as one of a handful of French issue troop swords with a iron/steel hilt and an elliptical blade. Most issue military hilts were arcolite brass. France was not a major steel producer and stuck with brass. It held up fairly well in use and was exceptionally easier to clean. Steel swords appear to have gained popularity in the Corps D'Afrique. French Colonial forces had a bit of a maverick view on style and steel fantasy swords stood out. End of the 19th Century was a crisis period for swords in most major military. There was an increasing movement to get rid of them as useless appliances in an environment full of ever improving missile weapons. Welcome to the the den of addicts.
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Post by Dave Kelly on Jun 10, 2020 23:49:09 GMT
I’m about to order a sword from the VA website, but i’m unsure what some things mean on it when ordering, 1. What do the antiquated and blackened steel variants look like? I can’t seem to find them and don’t know if it’s worth doing when i don’t know what it looks like 2. When it says right handed draw / left handed draw, is it so if i choose left handed draw, the sword would go on my right side so i draw it with my left hand, or is it the other way around? I know these questions seem silly but I’d hate to make a mistake on my order for around $600+ and around 4 months of wait, just to see i made a mistake If you are right handed you want your sword on your left hip. Antiquing is a mildly baked oil to create a faux pantina. A hard bake or chemical bath can give the furniture a black, blue or brown treatment.
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Post by Dave Kelly on Jun 2, 2020 0:52:28 GMT
If you want a sabre with a thinned down blade I am getting in a CS 1796 which I am planning on retapering and reprofiling to be more similar to my own IOS of the period. We had a situation some years back where one of our Canadian subscribers got himself a Cold Steel LC 96. Based on the feedback he got here he went and called Arms and Armory and asked them if they could reprofile his blade. They fished around their archives and did find a blade profile. They told the kid the bad news was that they would need 400.00 to pay for the CNC time. Most of the change was the foible. The kid got tired of swords and needed to sell his swords. I got the 1796. They did nice work.
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Post by Dave Kelly on May 29, 2020 21:14:10 GMT
Depends on your price range. Southern Swords in England still had Windlass Main Gauche for the Musketeer and Munich Watch.
Darkwood will make you one.
Vlad Cervenka's are good.
Del Tin
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Post by Dave Kelly on May 19, 2020 2:58:51 GMT
The latest version of the Cold Steel M1840 saber is actually a viable piece. Don't know who is doing the blades, but the handling is quite good.
the cold steel Britsh 1796 cav saber was 2.4 lbs and percussive. Some forges did make their early model that robust.
India forged blades are hit and miss. Blade temper is a crap shoot. Some of their stud are great for display. The older moders are badly. overbuilt
Empire Costume in Dinant has a lot of blue and guilt blades. A replica of a 4-8,000 saber has it's place.
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Post by Dave Kelly on May 8, 2020 19:15:26 GMT
Two big deliveries in one week :D Hussar Year IV, rooster stamp and the blade is engraved so perhaps officer? LC possibly Hussar as well, notice the bent quillon not sure if done on purpose or accident but the guard is a little loose. Happiness is... The bent quillon was done on purpose. Little help from blacksmith. Thumb rest. Changes leverage on the blade. All I could see was rust on the second sword. Now I see old bluing and bits of guilt. Officer sabre.
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Post by Dave Kelly on Apr 29, 2020 17:26:29 GMT
I'm surprised Dave hasn't weighed in as well, He has some double secret cool sources... They have mostly quit. Ebay "sword knots" will sometimes bring in a stray dog with knots. Armae, Empire Costume and a maker in Belgium do Napoleonics. Armae is least expensive, but usually out of stock. What price glory does US 1860-1913 knots. Proximate. I don't have 18,000.00 for sword knots.
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Post by Dave Kelly on Apr 12, 2020 9:58:20 GMT
Hi. I am a newbie here. Looking to purchase my first sword. Kult of Athena and Albion have the same price for the sword I am looking at. Is there an advantage of purchasing from one vs the other? The only advantage KoA provides is instant gratification if it's on hand. If you want a discount you have to hawk the secondary market until your dream sword appears. It does happen. 3 Years ago sold my 5 Albions to clear a tax debacle. Cruising the network of forums and stores I recovered the five over a two year period.
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Post by Dave Kelly on Mar 19, 2020 19:43:23 GMT
I was not aware of the extent of his illness. That is so sad. His loved ones have my sincerest condolences. He lives in our memories.
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Post by Dave Kelly on Mar 15, 2020 18:19:27 GMT
Thank you all for your quick responses and insight. - Jacob Poster has this also posted in General Discussion. I answered there. Sabre is the 1833 pattern Italian Quartermaster and Bandsman version. Without Langets it is the heavy artillery side arm. Calamandrei pgs 84-5.
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Post by Dave Kelly on Mar 14, 2020 19:33:57 GMT
Italian 1833 quartermaster and bandsman sidearm. With out langet it would be a heavy artillery troopers sidearm. No idea how to price this. It's kind of crude but VG condition. Try for 200.00 (?)
Caesare Calamandrei, Storia Dell'Arma Bianca Italiana pg 54-5
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Post by Dave Kelly on Mar 14, 2020 4:24:43 GMT
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