US Enlisted Model 1840 Light Artillery Saber by Schnitzler & Kirschbaum - 2nd Contract

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This model 1840 light artillery saber was made by the Prussian firm of Schnitzler & Kirschbaum also known as S & K. This firm had the earliest contract for these artillery sabers with the US Government ordering 500 in August of 1840. A second contract was awarded to S & K for 1,000 artillery sabers in August of 1847. This example offered here was delivered as part of this second contract. The blade, at some point, may have been shortened from its original 32-1/2 inches to its current 31-1/2 inches. It has a light grey patina with just a bit of mottling throughout its surface. The edge has approximately 4-5 small nicks. Its fuller starts at the ricasso and runs approximately 25 inches. The top flat of the blade just below the guard is marked with a crown and “FW 48” with a crown over a letter “G". These markings show this saber to be part S & K’s second contract mentioned above. The hilt has a brass Phrygian style pommel cap with a single knucklebow coming around to a thin guard ending in a circular quillon. One side of the knucklebow is stamped with crown over “G”. The grip is of wood wrapped in leather with a twisted wire wrap running approximately 17 courses around the grip. The leather and wire show only light wear. The scabbard is not an S & K scabbard but is a very good fit. S&K sabers were designed with a recessed area just underneath the guard to accept the narrow throat openings of their scabbards. On this saber, a leather washer was added to accept the flared throat opening of the current period scabbard. This scabbard has darkened with age and is complete with both mounts and rings. There are a few small dents on either side in the lower end. No markings are found on this scabbard. This is a nice example of an early model 1840 artillery saber that could have seen action in the Mexican War, the frontier and the Civil War and it will be an excellent addition to any sword collection of those periods.

Product Code:
PC8537

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