Original item: Only One Available. A wonderful saber we just got in! Despite the machine guns and artillery, swords were still issued to officers in WWI. This is a fine example of the German Artillery Officer's Sword, commonly referred to as the "Blücher Sabel," named for the Prussian Commander Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, who was ally to the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

This example is in very good service used condition, showing very nice blade condition, with only a few areas of light oxidation on the otherwise solid blade. The machining marks can even still be seen on most of the blade body. The blade has been sharpened, and there are a few small nicks, but it is still quite nice. It is stamped on the upper spine near the hilt is a small Crown over W over 05 for Kaiser Wilhelm II 1905, the year it was accepted into service. Under this is a sub inspector marking. The ricasso has a very faint maker marking, E. & F. HÖRSTER of Solingen. According to J. Anthony Carter's book, GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, the company was originally founded in 1850 as "Friedrich Hörster" in 1850. It was then renamed to E. & F. Hörster in 1870 at the behest of Friedrich Emil & Fritz Hörster. The firm lasted long after WWII, finally being declared insolvent in 1996. This is stamped under the rain guard (chappe), making it quite hard to see and impossible to photograph.

The blade still retains the leather blade buffer, though it is a bit worn, and the sword has a very nice wooden ribbed grip, which are somewhat more rare to find on these examples when compared to the rubber grip. It features the characteristic single knuckle bow hand guard. There are various proof marks on hilt and blade, and this sword comes with the original all steel scabbard, which is in very good condition. It still retains a good amount of the original blued finish, especially near the throat. It does have some denting on the body, but no real bends, and none of this interferes with the sheathing of the blade. There is some light oxidation across.

The crossguard of the saber and scabbard are regimentally marked with 4.A.F.5.H.34 which identifies it to Fußartillerie-Regiment Encke (Magdeburgisches) Nr. 4, 5th Battery/Company Howitzers, Weapon Nr. 34. This translates to Foot Artillery Regiment “Encke” (Magdeburg) No. 4. A most desirable Imperial German WWI Artillery Officer's "Blücher Sabel" with scabbard, ready to research and display!

Specifications:
Overall length: 35”
Blade length: 29 3/4”
Handguard: 5 1/4”L x 6 1/4"W
Scabbard length: 31”

Foot Artillery Regiment “Encke” (Magdeburg) No. 4

It was formed on June 16, 1864 as the Magdeburg Fortress Artillery Regiment No. 4 in two divisions of four companies each. The regimental staff and the I. Division were stationed in Magdeburg , the II. Division in Erfurt . On August 27, 1866, a III. Division was formed from the 9th and 10th companies of the 7th/5th and 3rd/6th from the II. Division and assigned to Saxony . This III. Division left the regiment on March 1, 1868.

With the separation from the field artillery on September 7, 1872, the unit was renamed the Magdeburg Foot Artillery Regiment No. 4. From this point on, the previous divisions were referred to as battalions. The 2nd Battalion was stationed in the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz from 1877. On April 1, 1881, the 6th Company was transferred to the Foot Artillery Regiment No. 11 .

On January 27, 1889, Wilhelm II decreed that the regiment should bear the name of Lieutenant General August Encke (1794–1860) in honor and memory . From that point on, it was therefore called Foot Artillery Regiment "Encke" (Magdeburg) No. 4.

On October 2, 1893, the 7th Company was transferred to the Schleswig-Holstein Foot Artillery Regiment No. 9 and the 4th Company to the Foot Artillery Regiment No. 15. In the same year, the regiment was regrouped in Magdeburg and placed under the newly formed 1st Foot Artillery Inspection in Berlin. On April 1, 1902, a troop division from the Magdeburg Train Battalion No. 4 was incorporated into the regiment and on October 1, 1903, the 2nd Company was transferred to the Hohenzollern Foot Artillery Regiment No. 13. In 1912, the subordination changed once again and the unit became part of the 6th Foot Artillery Brigade of the 3rd Foot Artillery Inspection. From 1913, the regiment used the Encke Barracks in Magdeburg.

With the mobilization at the outbreak of the First World War, the regimental unit was disbanded, the battalions were placed directly under the army corps and the regimental staff of the 2nd Army. According to a War Ministry decree of 24 February 1917, the regimental staff was reorganized as General of Artillery No. 13 and placed under the Army Artillery Reserve of the 1st Army from 31 May 1917.

After the end of the war, the association was initially demobilized and finally dissolved at the end of March 1919. The tradition was taken over in the Reichswehr by the 2nd Battery of the 4th Artillery Regiment in Halberstadt through a decree of the Chief of the Army High Command, General of the Infantry Hans von Seeckt, on 24 August 1921.