Hungarian Hussar sabres and Esterhazy

Jim McDougall · 15th February 2019, 07:25 PM

I am interested in finding out more on Hungarian (Austro-Hungarian) hussar sabres of the mid 18th century, and in particular a for which is shown in E. Wagner's "Cut and Thrust Weapons", Prague, 1967, pl. 36) as from Paul Esterhazy's regiment of hussars during the War of Austrian Succession 1741-48).
These sabres have a distinct affectation in the faux pearl decoration along the knuckle guard, which seems to have become a repeated style in some degree later.

Prince Paul Esterhazy of Galantha (1711-62)was of the noble Habsburg line and formed his hussar regiment in support of Maria Theresa. This was of course concurrent with the famed Baron von Trenck 'Pandour' units of the time.

My question is...……..these Hungarian sabres seem to follow the general convention of flat pommel caps as well as the elongated rectangle langets.

It seems a variant type existed which had a domed pommel as well as elliptical langets yet had the noted 'pearled' knuckleguard. The domed pommel and elliptical langets are notably French, as well as the wire wrapped grips......suggesting of course French origin. It is known the French did adopt the pearled them in some degree as well.

Has anyone seen known HUNGARIAN/AUSTRIAN sabres with DOMED POMMEL? ELLIPICAL langets?

I have checked of course Wagner and Konopisky& Moudry (1991) without success.

If anyone out there has the esoteric references on Hungarian swords (Ariel???) please help out.

The attached illustrations are the one from Wagner on the Esterhazy sabre.

The other from Moudry & Konopisky (Edged Weapons of the Habsburg Empire 16th-20th c. ) has one shown as Hungarian hussars 1750s. This was post Esterhazy so it would seem the 'pearled' affectation was still carried on.

Thank you guys!

Jim McDougall · 16th February 2019, 07:07 AM

In 1730 The French King began sword production at Klingenthal in response to dependence on foreign production.
In 1750 a regulation describes the first hussar sword designed and produced in France, but officers swords continued to come from abroad and followed Hungarian and Austrian prototypes.

This information from "The French Military Sword in Eighteenth Century"
C. Aries & M. Petard
'Gazette des Armes", #57, Feb. 1978

The hussar sabre regulated by 1752 was characteristically Hungarian.

The compelling similarity of these hussar sabres to Hungarian (and Austrian) types leads us to the notion that suspected variations of the Austro-Hungarian forms with French characteristics may indeed be these French swords noted.

Anyone with C. Aries volumes ? to compare these French types.

corrado26 · 16th February 2019, 09:10 AM

Here I post fotos of two Esterhazy sabres of the French Esterhazy Husard Regiment. May be you like them. Both belonged to my collection but are sold meanwhile.
Regards
corrado26

corrado26 · 16th February 2019, 09:12 AM

Second sabre

corrado26 · 16th February 2019, 09:14 AM

next fotos

Victrix · 16th February 2019, 02:45 PM

Jim,

I believe it’s not entirely clear that sabres with pearl string decorations on the knuckle guard are officers’ versions from the Esterhazy Hungarian hussars. The illustration in Wagner was done from Dolloczek (see picture below) and does not claim that the pearl string decoration necessarily is connected specifically with Esterhazy. There are plenty sabres belonging to officers of the Esterhazy hussars without this decoration and there are plenty sabres with the decoration which are not connected with Esterhazy. It can’t be ruled out that this was a fashion which started at the Esterhazy hussars and was copied.

The sabre characteristics you describe do seem French as you suggest. There were many Hungarian emigrés in France who served as hussards. Some were political refugees after the failed War of Independence by Prince Rakoczi 1703-11 and ended up in the service of French king Louis XIV. Ladislas Valentin Esterhazy was born in France and served with the Bercheny hussards before raising his own regiment in 1764. These Hungarian hussards in French service obviously used equipment similar to what they used in their native country. There may have been French hussard sabres with pearl lined guards but I never saw one.

There were also Esterhazy Hungarian infantry regiments like Nikolaus or Joseph Esterhazy at this time. Infantry sabres did not have flat pommels and did have elliptical shaped langets as you described. I attach a photo of an Austro-Hungarian infantry Prima Plana sabre with pearl line knuckle guard decoration which I saw in the Imperial Armoury in Prague (don’t know if any Esterhazy connection).

Jim McDougall · 16th February 2019, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corrado26

Here I post fotos of two Esterhazy sabres of the French Esterhazy Husard Regiment. May be you like them. Both belonged to my collection but are sold meanwhile.
Regards
corrado26

Corrado, thank you so much for showing these absolutely fantastic sabres! While it must have been hard letting them go, I am so grateful you have kept such great pictures of them, thus we can still learn from them.

The first one is flamboyantly wonderful, much in the hussar spirit, and what is most intriguing is the rayskin grip and menuki (decoration mid grip) reflecting the Oriental influences popular in Eastern Europe in 18th c. The carry rings are of most unusual form as well.
What is key here is the domed pommel I was seeking for comparison. It is not quite the 'Phrygian helmet' vestige that developed later and became known on many French sabres in the 19th c. but still distinctive.

The second sabre is also amazing and though relatively simple in its rudimentary character reflects the panache of the hussar in its likeness to the well known sabres used by them. It notably has the flat pommel which seemed to prevail in East European cavalry sabres.

Thank you again for showing us these beautiful examples!

Best regards
Jim

15th February 2019, 07:25 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,944	Hungarian Hussar sabres and Esterhazy I am interested in finding out more on Hungarian (Austro-Hungarian) hussar sabres of the mid 18th century, and in particular a for which is shown in E. Wagner's "Cut and Thrust Weapons", Prague, 1967, pl. 36) as from Paul Esterhazy's regiment of hussars during the War of Austrian Succession 1741-48). These sabres have a distinct affectation in the faux pearl decoration along the knuckle guard, which seems to have become a repeated style in some degree later. Prince Paul Esterhazy of Galantha (1711-62)was of the noble Habsburg line and formed his hussar regiment in support of Maria Theresa. This was of course concurrent with the famed Baron von Trenck 'Pandour' units of the time. My question is...……..these Hungarian sabres seem to follow the general convention of flat pommel caps as well as the elongated rectangle langets. It seems a variant type existed which had a domed pommel as well as elliptical langets yet had the noted 'pearled' knuckleguard. The domed pommel and elliptical langets are notably French, as well as the wire wrapped grips......suggesting of course French origin. It is known the French did adopt the pearled them in some degree as well. Has anyone seen known HUNGARIAN/AUSTRIAN sabres with DOMED POMMEL? ELLIPICAL langets? I have checked of course Wagner and Konopisky& Moudry (1991) without success. If anyone out there has the esoteric references on Hungarian swords (Ariel???) please help out. The attached illustrations are the one from Wagner on the Esterhazy sabre. The other from Moudry & Konopisky (Edged Weapons of the Habsburg Empire 16th-20th c. ) has one shown as Hungarian hussars 1750s. This was post Esterhazy so it would seem the 'pearled' affectation was still carried on. Thank you guys! Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 15th February 2019 at 11:17 PM.

16th February 2019, 09:10 AM	#3
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,204	Here I post fotos of two Esterhazy sabres of the French Esterhazy Husard Regiment. May be you like them. Both belonged to my collection but are sold meanwhile. Regards corrado26 Attached Images

16th February 2019, 09:12 AM	#4
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,204	Second sabre Attached Images

16th February 2019, 02:45 PM	#6
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 710	Jim, I believe it’s not entirely clear that sabres with pearl string decorations on the knuckle guard are officers’ versions from the Esterhazy Hungarian hussars. The illustration in Wagner was done from Dolloczek (see picture below) and does not claim that the pearl string decoration necessarily is connected specifically with Esterhazy. There are plenty sabres belonging to officers of the Esterhazy hussars without this decoration and there are plenty sabres with the decoration which are not connected with Esterhazy. It can’t be ruled out that this was a fashion which started at the Esterhazy hussars and was copied. The sabre characteristics you describe do seem French as you suggest. There were many Hungarian emigrés in France who served as hussards. Some were political refugees after the failed War of Independence by Prince Rakoczi 1703-11 and ended up in the service of French king Louis XIV. Ladislas Valentin Esterhazy was born in France and served with the Bercheny hussards before raising his own regiment in 1764. These Hungarian hussards in French service obviously used equipment similar to what they used in their native country. There may have been French hussard sabres with pearl lined guards but I never saw one. There were also Esterhazy Hungarian infantry regiments like Nikolaus or Joseph Esterhazy at this time. Infantry sabres did not have flat pommels and did have elliptical shaped langets as you described. I attach a photo of an Austro-Hungarian infantry Prima Plana sabre with pearl line knuckle guard decoration which I saw in the Imperial Armoury in Prague (don’t know if any Esterhazy connection). Attached Images Last edited by Victrix; 16th February 2019 at 02:55 PM.

16th February 2019, 07:07 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,944	In 1730 The French King began sword production at Klingenthal in response to dependence on foreign production. In 1750 a regulation describes the first hussar sword designed and produced in France, but officers swords continued to come from abroad and followed Hungarian and Austrian prototypes. This information from "The French Military Sword in Eighteenth Century" C. Aries & M. Petard 'Gazette des Armes", #57, Feb. 1978 The hussar sabre regulated by 1752 was characteristically Hungarian. The compelling similarity of these hussar sabres to Hungarian (and Austrian) types leads us to the notion that suspected variations of the Austro-Hungarian forms with French characteristics may indeed be these French swords noted. Anyone with C. Aries volumes ? to compare these French types.

16th February 2019, 09:14 AM	#5
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,204	next fotos Attached Images