Thread: Sword for ID
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Old 4th October 2011, 04:53 AM   #2
Jim McDougall
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This apparant military anomaly is indeed probably an officers sabre which in my opinion may likely be among variations in the Italian states around the mid to third quarter 19th century. These multi branch guards are seen in various configurations on a number of Italian swords of these times, and though Calamendrei ( "Armi Bianchi Militaire Italiene") does not have an exact match, the similarities are compelling. Many of these seem to be from the Piedmont regions in the north, close geographically to influences of bordering European countries.
Interesting on this example is the strong resemblance to British hilts of the period with stepped pommel, backstrap and grips also similar. It seems that a degree of British influence did enter some of the swords, one remarkably of the M1821 cavalry type. It is known that British M1796 light cavalry sabres did come into Italian states during the unification conflicts.

The blade is of a type with midrib at point with a yelman like stepped blade back and seen on Solingen produced forms which were on many Saxony swords into the end of the 19th century (Wagner).

It seems that often in my experience a number of 'inidentifiable' swords which strongly resembled other European swords and seemed 'variant' turned out to be Italian, sort of the 'forgotten' corner of European regulation swords. I think this may plausibly be the case here. As always, looking forward to other views and perhaps even a comparable example with provenance that might tell us more.
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