Help with identifying an Austrian sabre

corrado26 · 6th November 2021, 03:22 PM

As far as I can see this has nothing to do with Austria - it is a Württemberg officer sabre M 1817 which has been in use still during the First World War. The troop marking stands for the "Württembergisches Landwehr-Train Bataillon N°13".

Jim McDougall · 6th November 2021, 06:14 PM

It has always been amazing to me that these very early German sword types were in use so late and into WWI. It also seems that these stamped markings most often denote 'train battalion's'.
What exactly were 'train battalion's'?

Also, interestingly with the German units, especially cavalry and the use of obviously long outmoded lancers, it seems that in many cases, there was an almost anachronistic penchant for the pageantry of 19th century uniforms and weaponry.

The only other use of lances for example was perhaps some of the British Bengal Lancer and other units from other Indian states. Here of course, their own pageantry in uniform was evident.

Most overviews on WWI of course bring to mind khaki and drab utility uniforms and helmets slogging through muddy trenches in most of the armies involved, but the contrasts of these flamboyant units noted are colorfully fascinating.

kronckew · 7th November 2021, 08:00 AM

Train Battalions were infantry assigned specifically to ride on and guard military supply/troop trains.

Swedish Train Regiment Soldier with his
M1848 Swedish Faskinkniv

7th November 2021, 08:00 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	Train Battalions were infantry assigned specifically to ride on and guard military supply/troop trains. Swedish Train Regiment Soldier with his M1848 Swedish Faskinkniv Attached Images

6th November 2021, 03:22 PM	#1
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,226	As far as I can see this has nothing to do with Austria - it is a Württemberg officer sabre M 1817 which has been in use still during the First World War. The troop marking stands for the "Württembergisches Landwehr-Train Bataillon N°13".

6th November 2021, 06:14 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,194	It has always been amazing to me that these very early German sword types were in use so late and into WWI. It also seems that these stamped markings most often denote 'train battalion's'. What exactly were 'train battalion's'? Also, interestingly with the German units, especially cavalry and the use of obviously long outmoded lancers, it seems that in many cases, there was an almost anachronistic penchant for the pageantry of 19th century uniforms and weaponry. The only other use of lances for example was perhaps some of the British Bengal Lancer and other units from other Indian states. Here of course, their own pageantry in uniform was evident. Most overviews on WWI of course bring to mind khaki and drab utility uniforms and helmets slogging through muddy trenches in most of the armies involved, but the contrasts of these flamboyant units noted are colorfully fascinating.