I have been searching the net for information on a saber that I got recently. With no luck so far. Unfortunately the previous owner only knew the he'd bought is in an auction some years ago.

The sword is quite basic cavalry sword type of a weapon. The total length is 89 cm, the blade length is 76.5 cm and the blade width is 3 cm.

The handle is a quite plain wood handle. The scabbard is made of steel.

I found three stamps on the sword. On the blade it self there's possibly a number three near the guard. On the guard there's a '77' and a small anchor. I tried to get them visible in the attached pictures.

I would appreciate if anyone can identify this saber

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,
Pete

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There's apparently a number three stamped on the base of the blade.

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A quite clear number 77 on the guard

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A small anchor stamped on the guard

It looks like a 1796 Light Cavalry sabre from the British army.

http://www.oldswords.com/
This site may help... you can sift through versions of the patterns of that make...
I believe there were several makers and variations on that pattern in use up until the 1830 Federal period in U.S. usage, as well as British and Prussian makes.

Here is an a U.S. version with bone handle...
[ Linked Image ]

Are there any markings on the scabbard?
The placement of the two rings on the scabbard may also help to identify origin (it seems that those are specified by the intended military to match their carry system).
The anchor may also point to naval/marine pattern.
How much pitting is on the blade? It looks to be in fair condition with a generalized light rust.

And there was a 77th Regiment of Foot (the East Middlesex Regiment) active in the British Army from 1787 through 1881 (when it was merged into the 57th Regiment).

I think it's a mid 19 century italian sabre. The hilt is very typical for many italian states of that period, and I located one of a very similar design in Czerny's auction catalogue of april 2000 page 99, item number 381 described as Sciabola da volontario, 1850 circa. Unfortunately, they almost never mention marks and stamps in their descriptions.

It is not British, although it could be confused for a Pattern 1788 light cavalry sword. I am not sure exactly what it is. I could not rule out Italian, but it is different from the M1833 saber which it resembles. To be vague I would say it is 19th century European, probably early 19th century. 30" is a bit short for a cavalry weapon, unless you can tell if it was shortened at all. It looks like it would fit the scabbard pretty well--does it?

Jonathan

For reference, and Italian M1833 artillery saber:
[ Linked Image ]
[ Linked Image ]

and a British Pattern 1788 light cavalry sword:
[ Linked Image ]
[ Linked Image ]

Thank you all for your comments!

Looks like a combination of the British 1788 and the Italian M1833 would be quite close :confused: Well, I signed up on the Old Swords site and plan to do some searching there. Thanks for the tip. Somehow I'd missed that site.

The blade has some pitting. I hope it is visible in the picture below. My experience is not enough to say whether it is bad.

Judging from the very good match of the blade and scabbard I'd say that the blade has not been shortened. Also the scabbard shows no marks of modifications. I also found a small strip of leather between the wooden handle and handle guard. So apparently the handle has originally been leather covered.

I could not find any markings on the scabbard.

I've already done some searching for naval sabers, too. The anchor is pointing that way, isn't it.

Cheers,
Pete

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My question about the pitting was just fishing for evidence of shipboard service. But after having asked that, I realized it's probably not going to lead to any real answers. (The knife my father carried onboard ship in WW2 was severely pitted, even though he kept it painted and oiled. And a naval infantry weapon might not have been issued and seen service...)

Also a question is whether or not there might have once been a leather grip wrap that is now missing. Lack of the wrap might point to a weapon intended for enlisted personnel rather than an officer's weapon.

Based on what Petteri said, I would assume that it did once have a wrap on the grip. It is likely an enlisted man's sword, and I would guess that the original wrap would have been leather.

Jonathan

Hi!

Just throwing this out there but could this piece by chance be Hungarian or Polish? It's style certainly resembles that of a Brittish light cavalry saber, but the cross piece looks very similar to sabers of Hungarian/Polish origin, particularly the style of langet that extends over the blade.

take care!

Petteri, where did you get the sword. It might be easier to ID it if we know were it turned up.