ID this sword ?

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Dec 24, 2005
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I have had this sword for 30+ years. I found it as a child while rummaging around in a greatgreat aunts house. I was told that it belonged to a great great uncle and was from "the war" and that I could have it .. No other info except that the family was german.. The 19" long unsharpened blade is stamped "made in germany" on the edge of the riccasso just below the guard. The handle is brass as is the throat and tip of the scabbard. There is a button on the guard that you press to release the sword from the scabbard. The scabbard looks like it was made to fit in a "frog" to allow wearing on a belt..Any ideas on the age /origin of this little sword?? thanks alot..
 
If it is marked "made in germany" then it is made for the export market (made in Germany, but not written in German). I have seen this pattern as a French 'sidearm'. It isn't really a sword. Very nice anyway. Could do with clearer, close up pictures of the hilt, crossguard and any markings.
 
If it is marked "made in germany" then it is made for the export market (made in Germany, but not written in German). I have seen this pattern as a French 'sidearm'. It isn't really a sword. Very nice anyway. Could do with clearer, close up pictures of the hilt, crossguard and any markings.

Ditto what Andrew said, it looks to be along the same general lines what some folks call an "artillery sword" but some better pictures would be great.

swordfrartillery.jpg
 
Ditto.
I'd say a German reproduction of a Napoleonic Artillery sword. The originals would have been used in combat, though not extensively. Swords still played an active role on the battle field, but their role had diminished somewhat, especially outside of the cavalry. Also, the cannoneers were also supposed to be a bit removed from the action, so if they were having to use their swords, things had gone very wrong for them. I believe it ,or a similar model, was also carried by some enlisted infantry as well. It appears to be based on the Roman Gladius (there was a whole "neo-romantic" trend going on in Europe at this time, and it seems every western European leader who gets greedy for more land must pay stylistic tribute to the Roman Empire.) as well as swords Charmaine is depicted carrying. As Napoleon had a huge influence on military forces world-wide in the 19th century, it could be that this sword was carried by soldiers in other nations as well and in later time periods.
 
Ditto what Andrew said, it looks to be along the same general lines what some folks call an "artillery sword" but some better pictures would be great.

swordfrartillery.jpg

Yes, that's the one. I never managed to a get an authentic one of those and I love brass hilted weapons. I know it as a French Artillery Hanger.
 
Interesting piece - definetly a mid to late 1800's artillery/pioneer/engineer sidearm. A quick look through my collection and library (1800's sidearms are some of my favorite toys) didn't come up with any exact matches to your sword.

Can you take some more pictures - closeups of the hilt, blade, markings on the blade/hilt, any other unusual features?

Hal Siegel - TherionArms
http://www.therionarms.com
 
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