I recently bought this sword at a local gun show. the gentleman who sold it told me that the engraved motto "in treue fest" and overall shape made him think it was a late 1800s bavarian officer's sword. I as very interested in it since it is more or less my favorite sword type, and after discussing my intention to fix it up so that I could wield it, he sold it to me for $50, which price I considered very good considering that the hutton saber from hanwei is ~$100.

I bought it to refurbish and use, but I thought everyone here might enjoy seeing it as I got it first, without a grip, exposing the tang and hilt construction. Also, do you think he was right about its provenance? I think it would be really cool to drill with a 100+ year-old sword.

Stats:

31.5" blade
36.5" overall
POB 6.5 inches below the guard (withot grip)
COP 21" below guard
weight is ~1lb

The blade is very flexible but not whippy in motion. The last 10" of blade is two-edged and less than 1/16" thick, the blade will flex in the thrust unless aligned perfectly. Penetration on hard packing tubes was impressive, considering the unsharpened (probably original) edges of the sword.

Fittings look to be brass that was once nickel-plated, and i am not sure but the blade may have been plated too.

Does anyone know anything abot this sword?

I love this sword, she feels like a real "lady vivamus".

pics below...

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sorry for the fuzzy pics. I am not a good photographer, and i am using a cell phone to boot...

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After searching online for the motto, I found a sword that I think is a very close match for mine. I have a question though. The info I found states that these swords were used from ~1880 through WWI. Is there any way to tell when mine was made?

Jerry, your sword looks much like this example at Micheal D. Long's website: http://www.michaeldlong.net/kolistB/3/SWORDS/...109294.htm

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the link! That sword is almost exactly like mine.

major differences:
-my guard is slightly differently shaped, it looks like the one in the link has been bent in a few spots, noticeably the wrist-protector. also, mine has traces of nickel plating.
-mine is unsharpened, that one looks to have been sharpened on an electric grinder at some point
-my sword's maker's mark is in the same place, but is a simple stamped "F"
-my scabbard is different, possibly not original, as it looks naval-inspired
-my blade is shorter by about 2", possibly has been shortened, as the tip has an odd burr on it, but hard to tell

otherwise, the engraving, shape and overall look are nearly identical. the filework on the brass guard is even identical!

is there anyone else out there who likes these swords like I do?