Is this Austrian police sabre ?
 

Please, could some of colleagues experienced in Austrian arms help with IDing this sabre ? I was told Austrian mounted police (nevertheless it is not mentioned neither in Eduard Wagner´s books, nor in Sach and Moudry). Mark on ricasso is not readeble
Regards,
Martin

No idea ??

Hi Martin,
It would seem that civil weapons such as police swords etc. might be a bit esoteric for those references which deal of course with military weapons primarily. I would imagine that an excellent resource might be "With Drawn Sword: Austro-Hungarian Edged Weapons 1848-1918" by M. Christian Ortner.
I know that some time ago I was trying to identify an unusual sword which turned out to be an Austrian 'corpse carriers' sword, which I doubt can be topped as far as esoterica, and the reference cited was this one by Ortner.
I do not have the book and it is online on the usual sales, but pretty costly.

I would say that this sabre is likely Austrian as it has the openwork parallel lines in the guard base, and the fact that it is brass rather than iron may suggest private use such as you note, but obviously just guesswork. Since it is very much like cavalry sabres and the mounted police often used cavalry sabres, perhaps so, wish we could make out the markings.

Sorry not to be more help...maybe somebody out there might have that book? or know something on Austrian weapons.

All the best,
Jim

Hi Jim,
Many thanks. I will try to find the book by Ortner.
Best regards,
Martin

Hi Martin,
You're welcome :) The copies I found on line were horribly expensive! I'm not sure how things work these days with interlibrary loan but I used that extensively in the old days to get rare and out of print books and articles. Often Universities and other libraries actually have some of these weapons references, and once I had obtained the information I needed back they went. If there was enough to warrant, I at least knew if I needed it big bucks worth.

All the best,
Jim