A GERMAN OR AUSTRIA LATE 18TH TO EARLY 19TH CENTURY LIGHT CAVALRY OFFICER’S SWORD WITH DAMASCENED HILT AND BLADE, IN SCABBARD.
Elegant sword from the turn of 18th and 19th century with a hilt and blade made of wootz steel, unique piece probably for private order.
Origin: Central Europe, Germany or Austria, late 18th to early 19th century.
Very good, Damascus steel curved single edged blade, with wide fuller both sides. No visible maker’s marks. Engraved decoration of panoply and floral motifs. Blade cleaned.
Closed steel hilt of the wootz steel (!), straight yelman, shorter arm bent 90 degrees towards the blade, finished with an acorn shaped finial, other arm bent 90 degrees up, knucklebow with three balls, flat piece connecting with a pommel. Ebony wood grip-plates with pyramidal “diamonds” pattern. Flat ring between the grip plates and cross guard. Short, wide langets covering the mounth of the scabbard. The shape of the hilt and some details excludes French origin, sword was probably made in Germany or Austria under the influence of French taste.
Steel scabbard without bands, with two carrying rings mounted in loopd on the edge of the scabbard.
Total length in scabbard – 97,2 cm; without scabbard – 93,3 cm, length of the blade – 80,2 cm; width – 30 mm; thickness – 9 mm.
Keywords: sword, saber, sabre, Sabel, Schwert, szabla, szablya, glaive, Dolch, hanger, сабля