Austrian M1853 Pioneer Sword

Description

Featuring a broad, beefy 18 1/4″ single-edged blade with hatchet point and wide single
fuller on one side; 2 1/8″ wide at the ricasso. Guard with straight octagonal quillons and
turned finials, stamped on one side with the date “1861″ and inventory number “84″ on the
other. Two-piece wood slab grips riveted through the thick blade tang. Overall length 24
3/4″, weight a hefty 42 ounces (1192 g). These pioneer swords were meant for heavy work
with engineers and sappers, who frequently needed to use them to cut wood or dig away at
earth and rocks. Blade with light salt-and-pepper pitting on the reverse and numerous
shallow edge nicks. No scabbard.