Frogprince

Hello Mervyn, I have the interest, but I'm a little short on time right now with some Springtime activities. Still having some what I believe to be good examples for some of the interim periods, which most regrettably were reduced in numbers in the years before I acquired an easier to use digital camera. (Which even now does not always do what I want it to do.) With something that I did not realize at the time being that with the early swords by Wilkinson that the small proof discs may actually be gold. And as you say the "star" being something else which does not immediately come to mind. Both of which were soon copied by others to try and "elevate" the quality of their swords in the minds of prospective customers. Best Regards, Fred

Thank you for posting this more recent example from the Wilkinson company. With (in addition to the RAF sword) what I found of considerable interest the evolution of the firm's proof marking into what it is now, as contrasted with swords from earlier eras. FP

I’ve been away from French swords for a while, but my immediate recollection is that the ID as a French Infantry Officer's sword is correct. As for the French heavy cavalry swords of the period, here is an image of the hilt of an uncleaned example of the model 1854. Showing the four bar hilt and the relatively deeply fluted blade typical of this pattern. A little less massive that its predecessor it’s still a fairly large sword with an overall length of about 44 inches (112 cm). With what I think is an interesting side note to the Crimean War itself being the fact that the Russian cavalry used copies of earlier French swords made in Russian armories. With some types being reasonably exact copies, while some of the others might have had some kind of modification. FP

While the use of swords by Soviet horseman is clearly documented, the picture is not as clear for the Germans. There are prewar photographs of German cavalrymen with saddle mounted swords. And Third Reich examples of armory reworked Imperial era (red arrow marking) n/A M 1856 Prussian artillery sabers. How much use did they see? FP

Robin I think summed it up nicely. I?m not a Luftwaffe specialist, but as I understand it, as time progressed there were changes. And with the introduction of the Officer?s Dagger they changed again, but more substantially. Prior to the introduction of the Officer's Dagger if the individual had a flying badge he could wear the flyer?s dagger. But only Officer?s, and Unteroffizier mit Portepe, could wear the knot. And I believe that in the 1939/1940 supplement to Uniformen der Deutschen Wehrmact. It states that as of March 1940 the flyer?s dagger was to be worn only by NCO?s (without the knot), and men (including F?hnrich) with flying status. FP

Chris, I don't know if you ever got an answer, and am very sorry for the lateness of my reply (new member). Yes, for officers they were private purchases. However, I've seen Victorian era similarly marked officer's model swords, I'm assuming were for top grade senior non-commissioned officers. That were broad arrow marked, with what seemed to me to be a few small more or less random marks. And a Scottish broadsword (with an undress hilt), and possibly one other that escapes me at the moment. I hope this helps. Best Regards, FP