German sidearm
length: 26 1/2"
Beause I was a reenactor and student of medieval and renaissance weapons, I
unfortunately paid no attention whatsoever to 1600's, 1700's and 1800's
military swords and sabers ... much to my chagrin now that I've started
noticing how nifty some of them are. I've been slowly backtracking through
my research library for identification help with military sabers and
sidearms. Haven't hit upon the exact Make and Model of production for this
one yet, but by the style of grip and guard this sword dates from 1810-1850.
The blade is inscribed "Jos. Vierheilig. Munchen", and has a small crested
knight's helmet armor mark. Made in Munich, which is cool, but that puts a
bit of a cramp into my research, since I have several books on shelf or on
order about Solingen blades, but nothing yet about Munich. If you can pass
on more information on this one or point me towards a site or book that'll
detail non-Solingen 1800's German swords, please do.
note added 3/3/01 - I've found the knight's head maker's mark - it was used by WR
Kirshbaum. Identification made via Mike
McWatter's article on US Civil War swords and this
photograph.
notes received 3/20/01 from Ian Greaves:
"Some more on C.R.K. from the same reference that I gave you previously
(pp.
59-60).
There were a large family of Kirschbaums who were sword makers in
Solingen,
starting with Johannis Kirschbaum the Elder (1430-1450) and going through
W.R.K. (1862-1883). Anyway, here's what I found about our friend Carl:
Probably the son of Rudolph Kirschbaum the Elder
Probably a sword maker like his father
in 1850, his son, Wilhelm Reinhardt Kirschbaum, apprenticed and worked
with
him as a sword maker
Sold swords to northern dealers during the American Civil War, 1861-1862
In 1858, he obtained a large order for pattern 1858 sword bayonets from
the
British Government. He took in Caspar Wilhelm Brenshey (cash box and safe
maker company called Poscheider Muhle Co. of Ohlings, 1848-1876) as a
partner
to help make the spring and stud mechanism for the bayonets. They formed a
separate company, Kirschbaum and Bremshey (1858-1862).
There is also a picture of Carl on p. 127 among other Famous Solingen
Sword
Makers.
I cannot find a picture among my books of the British pattern 1858 sword
bayonet, but the weapon you show might easily fall into that category. My
guess is that the engraved name on the blade is that of the original owner
and perhaps the piece was a presentation-grade model of his military run
of
British sword bayonets.
I'm sure there are many bayonet collectors out there who could tell you if
this piece is patterned on the 1858 British sword bayonet."
note received 7/26/01 from Lieb_Hussar:
As for the name etched onto the blade it is not the name of the person that
owned the sword. Rather it is the name of the distributor that sold the
sword. Also as it has a distributor's name from Munich on the blade it would
invariably not have been meant for export, as an export piece unless
commisioned directly, would usually only bear the manufacturer's trademark.
As such it is most likely a private purchase sword, for use within Bavaria.
The style of the pommel, backstrap, and knucklebow suggest to me that it
is an NCO's sword, originally carried slung from the shoulder in a vertical
posture.
And finally it is a little hard to tell from the pics but the stud for the
frog, on the throat fitting appears to be in the form of an acorn. It this
is the case, then the sword was intended for use by Forestry personnel.
Further if the fitting is an acorn, this would also account also for the
lack of blood grooves in the blade."
blade: 21 1/2"
blade width: 1 1/8"
grip: 5"
guard: 4"
"On the German sword, I think you have the wrong Kirschbaum. According to
my
source, German Swords and Swordmakers (by Richard H Bezdeck), p.141, the
knight's head motif shown on your blade belongs to Carl Reinhardt
Kirschbaum
(1814-1862). W.R. Kirschbaum & Cie. (1862-1883) used a different knight's
head insignia and included the initials "K.&C." I think the style of this
sword better fits the early half of the 19th C. I'm sorry but I don't
recognize the specific pattern of this sword."
"On your German sidearm, I have collected german edged weapons for a
number
of years. And have some examples for comparison. The style of hilt is of
the pattern used in Bavaria. Thus I believe it was a contract piece made in
Solingen for sale to the German State of Bavaria. I do not believe it to be
a presentation sword as most of the presentation pieces of the period are
quite ornate in design.
I would place the period of manufacture at the 1840's - 1870's by the style
of hilt and fittings to the scabbard.This dating is also arrived at by the
color of the brass with the patina, suggesting a higher copper content,
accounting for the red of the patina. And also one starts to see brass being
used for this type of sidearm in the early 1840's.
