Prussian Model 1848 Artillery Saber

Some sources refer to this as the New 1811 Blücher model saber, and it does closely resemble the older sword, named after the Prussian General of the Napoleonic wars. Actually the old Blücher was copied from the British Model 1796 cavalry sword, also used in the Napoleonic era.
In approximately 1848, the Prussians upgraded their sword by changing the blade point from upswept to spear point and changing the style of the fuller. Minor changes were made to the hilt as well, but the general appearance remained the same.

My sword was accepted into service in 1897, as indicated by the crown W proof mark on the spine. The earliest Model ‘48s have a two ring scabbard, but mine has the later single fixed ring. Swords made closer to WWI had Bakelite grips, but this sword has covered wood. The scabbard and hilt have matching unit numbers “A.M.II.6.81.” which deciphers as the Artillery Munitions Column of the second Army Corps, sixth company, sword number 81.

I got this sword as a young boy and it’s the first “real” sword I ever owned (I already had some cheap decorative swords from Pier 1). My grandfather originally gave it to another boy in the family, who promptly traded to a friend for a plastic model car. Grandpa heard of the swap, made the kid return the model car and took the sword back, eventually giving it to me. I saw this other relative at a family funeral last year, and one of the first things he asked was whether I still had the sword. Maybe he had a trade in mind.