Austro-Hungarian Hussar Officer’s Saber, ca. 1800

The hussars were light cavalry originating in Hungary and Poland and adopted by almost all European nations of the Napoleonic era through WWI. This saber features stirrup guard of forged flat steel with reverse scroll quillon, joining the capstan pommel, the latter with button and integral backstrap. Wood grip wrapped with cord and leather (minor leather loss). Curved 31 1/4″ (79.4 cm) single-edged blade, the last 8″ double-edged, with broad full- length fuller and clipped point; etched with stars, moon, a turbaned figure in profile, symbols, and a man-in-the-moon face. Metal with patches of pitting and age staining; the blade retaining a sharp edge. Overall length 36 1/2″ (92.7 cm). No scabbard.