Please identify this sabre

[davhill]

Hello,

In 1967, I bought a sabre from my uncle. The story went that it was found by one of his brothers. It was in the false back panel of a wardrobe in the home of an elderly person who had died. This house was in Mellor, not far from Manchester, UK.

I posted the same question and pictures (please see below) on the sword forum eight years ago,you'll find it and the responses here...

http://www.swordforum.com/forums/sho...Mystery-Weapon

The sabre seems very similar to an Ames weapon of the early 19th Century. It has a 34-inch blade and a simple, iron basket around the grip. The basket has two knuckle guards (forgive my ignorance if this is the wrong term!). The grip is clearly made of leather (very dry and missing in places) over a wooden core. Though the grip is ribbed, there's no evidence of its having been wired.

The weapon also has a simple, steel scabbard with what appears to be a brazed join.

Quite apart from its source, my sabre has two unusual features. First, it is stamped 'F PRESTON' on the tang(?) near the grip. Secondly, it is clear that the blade has never been sharpened. The damage to the grip suggests much handling but no actual use.

I've done some web research but nothing positive has come up. I'm aware that my sabre is probably of a common kind and I am not seeking a valuation, just an identification

Any comments will be welcomed.

Many thanks,

David Hill

[Frunk]

Thread moved from General TW Discussion.

[Aermanner]

Looks like a 1821 pattern cavalry sabre carried by an officer or nco. They often had the blade changed.

I have one just like it.

I also have a heavy nco cavalry sabre from around 1896 and it has the same star on the ricasso. It's definitely British and not the Bavarian one from your previous thread.

It probably had wiring grip at some point, but many lose it and show no traces of it later. Sabres without wiring are usually from 1890 or later. Secondly, you don't sharpen sabres. Their edge are for breaking skin and bone and whatever else is in the way. Not slicing like a knife.

Hope this helps!

[Spear Dog]

I think the suggestion of the M1826 Bavarian cavalry sabre might be on the money. Your sword is almost identical to the M1826 Artillery sabre which has been identified with some confidence here. The difference is the slight waist/scallop at the top of the basket where it returns to the hilt, which I would suggest functions as a point to fasten a wrist strap - common on cavalry swords.

*Aermanner, just looked at the 1821 British cavalry sabres and there are several variants being identified as such, differing in the handle and basket. What most of them have in common is a slot in the top of the basket return instead of the slightly narrowed waist of *davhill's sword, also that steel casing along the top edge of the hilt continuing over the pommel is not common to some of the British swords but seems common to the Bavarian swords.

**I now sympathise with OP, looks like a definitive ID could be tricky with lots of very similar swords variously attributed.

***I think this sword is the same as the OP's

[Kyriakos]

Maybe it is the sword of Omens? The one Liono wielded?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Ok, sorry, couldn't resist

[Magister Militum Flavius Aetius]

Must... not... post... Pawn Stars meme...

Seriously, there's a lot of knowledgeable people here but you might be better served by taking it to an expert.

[Kjertesvein]

If you're looking for additional perspectives, try here. Additionally, ask Easton (the email at the end).

~Wille

[Lord Oda Nobunaga]

Looks European to me, early 1800's. Probably French or British if I had to guess. If this is from the Napoleonic Wars then it probably belongs to the French or one of their allies like Italy, Bavaria, Westphalia etc.