Posted 15 years ago
Chrisnp
(310 items)
This is an Imperial German Sabretashe. The accompanying illustration shows a group of Prussian Hussars from the 1890s, with the second one from the right (4th Regiment trumpeter) wearing one that is very similar (Illustration is from Brassey’s History of uniforms; WWI German Army). Unfortunately my Sabretache is only the cover, and I don’t really see how the pouch that should be behind it was ever attached. This makes me wonder if at some point, Prussian Sabretaches were ornamental only, possibly as shortages and ersatz items appeared early in WWI. If anyone has any information supporting/refuting that theory, please let me know. The brass royal cypher is attached by five rings, which were pushed through the leather cover and then secured by a leather lace
As long as I was taking pictures, I took a shot of the back of this Sabretashe. I have considered that that perhaps there were sabretaches made with interchangeable covers for service dress, parade dress, etc, though I don’t see how the sabertache pouch was attached. Another possibility I was thinking of was that this might be a theatrical piece. If so, it’s pretty old. What I don’t think it is, is a reenactor’s piece or a piece made to deceive. Otherwise, I think the pouch would have been made too. In any case, it makes a nice center piece on my wall to arrange my swords around.