Hello,

I'm doing some research about the swiss saber - the history of it, usage, different models throughout history, etc... Anything that Swiss saber related.

So far my google-fu only produce the link back to myArmoury (from Nathan's excellent review of A&A custom Swiss saber) and wikipedia. Beyond those two, I seems have difficulties finding good material.

Anyone can suggest a website/book that I can study to understand more about this weapon?

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European Weapons and Armour: From the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution
By by Ewart Oakeshott

To be fair, that book was rather light on the Swiss saber from what I recall. Regardless I will agree that it is one of the better and more easily obtainable English-language sources out there. I'm really not sure what else is out there, apart from some threads here that could be found via a "site:myArmoury.com/talk/ Swiss saber" search.

So-called "Swiss Sabers" are just a hilt variation of a longsword with a compound hilt. Oakeshott's book describes the influences of the hilt style and that's about the only information specific to the type that's unique.

I thought the Swiss saber was a slightly curved blade that's sharpened fully on its true edge and only partially sharpened (the top 1/3) on the false edge. Then again, I could completely wrong since I only know this by word-of-mouth.

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Swiss sabres have been around in what is now Switzerland during the early modern period starting from 1648 or earlier.
But I guess in the 1700's the sabre fell into disuse and was replaced with other swords from that period.

myArmoury is really a tresure cove of great information!
Just found this link last night...
http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.5122.html

It's old thread (from 2005) but have a lot of interesting discussion...

Historisches Museum Bern has the famous Moser Collection of Oriental weapons, but it has been packed away. The no doubt also have Swiss weapons, but I dont think they are on exhibition, and I dont know of any weapon catalogue from this museum.
Landesmuseum in Zurich (the National Museum) has a big collection of Swiss weapons, all packed away and there is no catalogue on the weapons. I dont know if there is an old catalogue, but the weapons were moved to the rserves about ten years ago.
There may be some old books somewhere on early Swiss weapons, but I know of none, as I collect Indian weapons.

Try to ask the Landesmuseum here http://www.nationalmuseum.ch/e/sammlung_forschung.php they may be able to help you.

Carl W. wrote:

Quote: ...the link back to myArmoury (from Nathan's excellent review of A&A custom Swiss saber)... If saves others' time - it took a while to find this - its in Nathan's Collection, not in Reviews.

Yeah. I didn't know what review was referenced either since I've never written a hands-on review of one. haha...

Here's the link to my collection gallery sample:
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Shahril, what is your photo of? (are there more pics/info somewhere?) It is interesting & appears quite nice. It is maybe shorter and/or more curved than others referenced so far in this topic?

That sword is made by JT Pälikkö: http://www.kp-art.fi/jt/miekat/17a.html
I believe it's roughly based on the same as mine from A&A: Wallce Collection A489. The angle of the photo makes the hilt look proportionally larger than it is.