Italian or Austrian saber?

Bryce · 6th August 2020, 09:59 PM

The scabbard looks like a genuine, British 1908 pattern cavalry troopers'. The sword blade also looks like a 1908 cavalry troopers'. The hilt has some features of the British 1897 infantry officers pattern, but without any cut-outs. The grip is at best a replacement, but it may be that the sword is some sort of modern reproduction. Are there any stamps on it anywhere? Below is my 1908 pattern cavalry troopers' sword.
Cheers,
Bryce

kronckew · 7th August 2020, 08:06 AM

Interesting info on the 1908 sword.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNY5p5h8eQ4

I'd always wanted a 1908 until I saw the comments on it. I DO have an Indian sabre like he mentioned with the 1796 style blade & 1821 style guard/grip, it handles even better than the 1796 and has a wider and thicker blade root. The Brits finally forced the Indian regement to use them, tho I gather they were still issued to Mountain troops (Khyber pass?) for quite a while after the others.

I've read somewhere about the first engagement of UK and German cavalry in WW1 before the trenching started. A British cavalry troop charged a German Uhlan troop armed with lances, in the ensuing melee a number of German lancers were killed an the rest fled, persued by the Brits. The Germans hopped a barbed wire cattle fence while the Brits horses refused to jump it. Apparently the Germans were quite young recruits on their first outing with no experience. I also suspect the Brits did not have the 1908s and thus were better equipped for the melee that occured.

mteuthof · 11th August 2020, 05:01 PM

Thanks for all your reactions! I will make pics of the stamps on the sword and scabbard tomorrow.

6th August 2020, 09:59 PM	#1
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 189	The scabbard looks like a genuine, British 1908 pattern cavalry troopers'. The sword blade also looks like a 1908 cavalry troopers'. The hilt has some features of the British 1897 infantry officers pattern, but without any cut-outs. The grip is at best a replacement, but it may be that the sword is some sort of modern reproduction. Are there any stamps on it anywhere? Below is my 1908 pattern cavalry troopers' sword. Cheers, Bryce Attached Images

7th August 2020, 08:06 AM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,227	Interesting info on the 1908 sword. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNY5p5h8eQ4 I'd always wanted a 1908 until I saw the comments on it. I DO have an Indian sabre like he mentioned with the 1796 style blade & 1821 style guard/grip, it handles even better than the 1796 and has a wider and thicker blade root. The Brits finally forced the Indian regement to use them, tho I gather they were still issued to Mountain troops (Khyber pass?) for quite a while after the others. I've read somewhere about the first engagement of UK and German cavalry in WW1 before the trenching started. A British cavalry troop charged a German Uhlan troop armed with lances, in the ensuing melee a number of German lancers were killed an the rest fled, persued by the Brits. The Germans hopped a barbed wire cattle fence while the Brits horses refused to jump it. Apparently the Germans were quite young recruits on their first outing with no experience. I also suspect the Brits did not have the 1908s and thus were better equipped for the melee that occured.

11th August 2020, 05:01 PM	#3
mteuthof Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Posts: 10	Thanks for all your reactions! I will make pics of the stamps on the sword and scabbard tomorrow.