Could anybody more closely allocate this Hussar sword ?

Jim McDougall · 7th April 2010, 12:59 AM

Hi Martin,
This is a great sabre and of extremely desirable form which appears to be Austrian from about mid to third quarter 18th century. This 'rayed' motif was very popular in these times in the motif on sabres in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and similiar is still seen used on Hungarian infantry officers sabres M1811 (type II). This is shown in Eduard Wagner's "Cut & Thrust Weapons" (p.414, plate 44).
The rectangular ear and langet crosspiece is of the style seen on Austrian cavalry sabres and the straight outward quillon terminal also is characteristic.
There is a rather difficult to locate reference on Austrian weapons, the author is Dolleczek and is often cited in Wagner. I have seen pages of this reference and though it has been some time, it seems the line drawings reflected these heavy, chopping blades of this form. It is believed that these heavy 'hatchet tip' type blades were one of the primary prototypes for the M1796 British light cavalry sabres.

Austrian cavalry weapons of this period are highly sought after, with this being one of the driving forces, with the M1769 pallasche also influencing the British M1796 heavy cavalry sword.

It seems I have seen other sabres with this rayed scabbard mount motif with hilt elements en suite on sabres identified either as Austrian or Hungarian of this period. It is difficult to draw a line as they are so similar.

All best regards,
Jim

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7th April 2010, 12:59 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Hi Martin, This is a great sabre and of extremely desirable form which appears to be Austrian from about mid to third quarter 18th century. This 'rayed' motif was very popular in these times in the motif on sabres in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and similiar is still seen used on Hungarian infantry officers sabres M1811 (type II). This is shown in Eduard Wagner's "Cut & Thrust Weapons" (p.414, plate 44). The rectangular ear and langet crosspiece is of the style seen on Austrian cavalry sabres and the straight outward quillon terminal also is characteristic. There is a rather difficult to locate reference on Austrian weapons, the author is Dolleczek and is often cited in Wagner. I have seen pages of this reference and though it has been some time, it seems the line drawings reflected these heavy, chopping blades of this form. It is believed that these heavy 'hatchet tip' type blades were one of the primary prototypes for the M1796 British light cavalry sabres. Austrian cavalry weapons of this period are highly sought after, with this being one of the driving forces, with the M1769 pallasche also influencing the British M1796 heavy cavalry sword. It seems I have seen other sabres with this rayed scabbard mount motif with hilt elements en suite on sabres identified either as Austrian or Hungarian of this period. It is difficult to draw a line as they are so similar. All best regards, Jim