Old Sword for Identification

[jwburchell]

Hoping for some assistance in identifying this sword the blade of which is maker-marked "Gebruder Weyersberg". The brass hand guard/basket bears a cartouche showing two cannon superimposed over what looks like a star/flower blossom above and a firebomb/grenade below. Could these signify it as being an artillery sword? On the top flat side of the blade where it meets the hilt are stamped vertically above "Solingen": a symbol of some sort; an "L" and numeral "8"....possibly acceptance or regimental marks? On the top spine of the blade near the hilt are stamped vertically: a crown; the letters "FW" and the numerals "50". Might this be for Friedrich Wilhelm and 1850?

All feedback and comments will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

John

[jwburchell]

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[naxos]

The blade appears to be a M 1848 Prussian Artillery type that has be altered and fitted with non Prussian, non-German (possibly fake or export market) brass guard and grip. The scabbard is also not German.

[Reichsword]

My guess is it's an export sword for Argentina or Chile.

[jwburchell]

Thank you "naxos" and "Reichsword" for your helpful feedback.

Can someone please decipher for me the meaning of the symbols on this sword: the "L" and numeral "8" (possibly acceptance or regimental marks?); also the crown, the letters "FW" and the numerals "50" (for Friedrich Wilhelm and 1850)?

[naxos]

you are right the FW/50 refers to the manufacturing date; 1850 under the reign of King Friedrich Wilhelm.

L/8 is possibly an export or foreign military (South American) marking. Is there a crown above the "L"?

[jwburchell]

Thanks "naxos" for your additional feedback.. Much appreciated.
There is a mark above the "L" but I don't think it looks like a crown. See below.

[Frogprince]

Not immediately at hand, the Prussians in the late 1840's did experiment with trials examples using some exact copies of both the French Artillery, and Cavalry sabers in brass. A very short time later also making a different type of cavalry saber with an iron/steel hilt. With the design that actually went into series production the M1852 Cavalry saber that's different from the earlier types mentioned. Not disagreeing with the earlier comments that some fooling around has probably taken place with some as yet undetermined sword components - the next step is to try to reconcile the sword (especially the blade) here with some reference examples. FP

[Frogprince]

The marking is a "crown" and as I suspected the mystery is partially solved. The blade appearing to be from a batch of ex-Prussian cavalry sabers with iron/steel swept hilts that were sold to Britain because of an immediate need for weapons during the Crimean War. As for the rest including the scabbard at this point with the pictures at hand - who knows?? FP

[Frogprince]

BTW: None of the three Prussian sabers I mentioned seem to be in any of the commonly available German books or museum collections that I'm aware of. FP