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 32.00 inch blade on this saber is bright with just the slightest hint of mottling throughout its surface. The true edge has approx. a dozen small nicks. The central fuller starts at the ricasso and runs approx. 25.00 inches. One side of the ricasso is stamped with a number “27.” 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 underside of the guard is recessed to accept the throat of the iron scabbard. The grip is of wood wrapped in leather with a twisted wire wrap running approx. 17 courses around the grip. The leather and wire show only light wear.

The iron scabbard has darkened with age and has some light pitting but it is complete with both mounts and rings. There is one small dent on either side of the drag. The drag is marked on one side with “S & K” and on the opposite side with the number “30.”

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.

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