Prussian Trooper Sword -- myArmoury.com

Morgan Butler · Posted: Fri 02 May, 2008 9:12 am Post subject: Prussian Trooper Sword

I just got a new piece today that I like very much. Its a WW1 Mounted Artillery Sabre. It will go nicely with my M1861 Austrian Infantry Sabre. I have really developed a liking for those germanic mid 19th cen. to WW1 30 inch bladed field swords. They are great, well balanced cut and thrust weapons. The only thing I dont like so much is the fixed ring on the scabbard and the harness clip on the back. Makes it hard to hang on the wall. But the size of these weapons on the whole suits me.
Here's some pics!

Morgan Butler · Posted: Fri 02 May, 2008 9:16 am Post subject:

If anyone wants larger photos I can send them.

Jonathan Hopkins · Posted: Fri 02 May, 2008 9:41 am Post subject:

Very nice, Morgan, congratulations. Is there a motto in the etching or is it just a floral motif?

Jonathan

Morgan Butler · Posted: Fri 02 May, 2008 9:51 am Post subject:

Well I dont know. Its in transit as we speak. I sort of wonder if its pre-WW1 because of all the bright metal. Most of the WW1 swords I have seen have black scabbards, hilts and bakelite grips. I'm sort of hoping it will be a pre WW1 sabre.

Thomas Watt · Posted: Fri 02 May, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:

Oooooh. Congratulations (he said, choking back the envy) on a nice piece.
Hope it makes its way swiftly and safely (unless of course it were to accidently get delivered to me instead - just kidding).

Stephan Hall · Posted: Sun 04 May, 2008 4:23 am Post subject:

H i Morgan the Inskription on the Skabart and on the saber should read tenth Fieldartilery Regiment, 2.Batterie, Weapon Nr.39. Because i´m not a specialist its very hard to tell something It could also be of newer origin those sabers are standartised in 1920. look if there is another number on the spine of the blade. that could give you a clue .
I hope somebody knows more.

Morgan Butler · Posted: Tue 06 May, 2008 9:46 am Post subject:

I just found pics of a WW1 field artillery saber. It is remarkably different form the pics at the top of the thread of mine. These sabres are even from the same unit. The 10th Hanoverian. It makes me pretty sure that my sabre at the top was manufactued in the 1880s. Its much broader (1and1/4th inches) and has a deeper curve. Heavier fighting hilt as well.
Here are the pics of the 20th century one.

Morgan Butler · Posted: Thu 08 May, 2008 12:05 pm Post subject:

Well , my Mounted artillery trooper sword just arrived. It is FREAKING AWESOME! The etching is both floral and with artillery symbols. No makers mark and no marking for who the king/kaiser/emperor is. It is much lighter than my M.1861 austrian infantry saber but has the same length ( 30 inches) and width (1 and 1/4th) blade. This sabre is more deeply curved like most mounted artillery swords are. It also has a sturdier guard than the M.1861. The deep brown leather is 95 percent intact (there is some rope cord showing underneath) and has a nice shine. The scabbard and hilt are plated. Nice and bright. The blade is also bright as well. I am totally pleased!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Morgan Butler

so when I inspected the sword, it had a blade that had no edge, as in the edge was square. I was hoping for a fighting blade. Alas. However the origianal owner said he would take it back. So I'm returning it.

Stephan Hall · Posted: Fri 09 May, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject:

Hi Morgan can You please look for other marks on the blade.
Thanks Stephan

Morgan Butler · Posted: Fri 09 May, 2008 3:09 pm Post subject:

No marks, no maker, no sigil representing the king. It is a non field blade with generic floral and military motifs. I

Stephan Hall · Posted: Sun 11 May, 2008 4:42 am Post subject:

The Saber looks good but the unstamped Blade is with a high possibility only from decorative value.
It´s a Girl catcher! A private purchased piece for wearing out of duty. The fact alone that the Blade isn´t sharp doesn`t mean that it´s not a fighting piece because the Sabers were only sharpened when the troups were mobilized. When they were demobilized the Blades were blunted again.

Shahril Dzulkifli · Posted: Wed 28 May, 2008 8:47 pm Post subject: Prussian Trooper Sword

Stephan, what do you mean this sword is called 'Girl Catcher'?

Stephan Hall · Posted: Thu 29 May, 2008 3:31 am Post subject:

Hi Shahril the term Girl Catcher isn´t a name, it´s what the saber was used for.
in the 19th Century in Prussia Girls liked Uniformed men. The uniform was often worn even in free time to impress girls,and since issued weapons were only allowed on duty some soldiers bought sabers to wear off duty. The intention to wear a saber off duty was to impress Girls and get them into bed ;-). So the saber was used to literaly catch girls.

Morgan Butler · Posted: Thu 29 May, 2008 11:56 am Post subject:

Quite so. While in fine condition, when I saw that it was not a "fighting" blade I was very, very, dissapointed. Luckily I got a complete refund.

Stephan Hall · Posted: Fri 30 May, 2008 4:54 am Post subject:

As I wrote before if it had been a marked blade you could have sharpened it. ( Some collectors would behead me with a dull one for saying somthing like that) The tradition to sharpen and dull it repeatedly is maybe the purpose that the most "real" blades are in a bad condition. But an unmarked Blade? You can`t tell if its tempered or not you can get the hardness tested but is the steel good, has it internal flaws, there is always a risk with antique weapons even when a good name is on the blade like weyersberg,Eickhorn or something like that. For a Collector the stability of a blade is of minor issue if it has the right marks it good for him. I don´t know why you wanted a sharp one? Just because you wanted something whose purpose was to fight not to look good, or did you have some testcutting in mind?
Stephan

Morgan Butler · Posted: Fri 30 May, 2008 8:16 am Post subject:

I dont mean necessarily "sharp". But as I wrote before, it was unmarked, no royal cypher, no national insignia. It was obviously a dress blade, with a mounted artillery "scene" on the blade. And the edge was completely squared.
The antique portion of my sword collection is devoted to fighting field swords. And even unsharpened field swords had the makings of an edge so that you didnt grind away 50 percent of the sword. This sword had none. It was as if the sword had two backs.
Its not necessary to me to have the sword be sharp, but it is important to me that the sword be a "combat" field weapon, thats just the bent of my collecting/collection. But I do admit that the stability of the sword is important to me when selecting a sword. To each his own.

Shahril Dzulkifli · Posted: Fri 30 May, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject: Prussian Trooper Sword

Stephan, so that's the sword's function. Off-duty troopers carry this sword so that they can impress girls and get into bed with them and this thing really happens, right?