UNGARISCH KARABELA SÄBEL SCHWERT, UNGARN, 16/17 – 18/19 JHDT. Origin: Hungary. A nice example of

UNGARISCH KARABELA SÄBEL SCHWERT, UNGARN, 16/17 – 18/19 JHDT.

Origin: Hungary.
A nice example of the fighting sword with karabela type hilt. Blade dated from late 16th to early 17th c. with later mounting (late 18th or early 19th c.). Length 96 cm.
Blade: Perfectly forged, steel blade with three fullers and not very long false edge. Finished with hatched point. Two fullers reaching half of the false edge, one shorter. Maker marks on the ricasso, both sides - small crosses with equal arms and a mark similar to the snake in-between. Similar signs are published in Friedrich Jager’s „Ungarischer Säbel und Husaren-Pallasch”. Small curve of blade. Styrian or Hungarian origin, probably from 16th/17th c., latest 17th c. Dimensions of the blade: length – 87 cm, false edge – 12 cm, width at cross-guard – 3 cm, curve (including blade’s width) – 5 cm.
Hilt: Karabela type, carved in light-brown horn, double riveted each side. Rivets in shape of rhomboidal shields, slightly rubbed. Brass tape covers the place where horn-made faces of hilt are connected. Hilt additionally decorated with brass nails. Length of hilt – 12 cm. Quillons with straight arms ended with long barrels. Made of brass. Short langets, pair coming into the hilt faces surrounded with brass nails. Cross-guard width – 13 cm, height of langets – 7 cm.
Scabbard: absent.
Notes: Comes with expertise of famous Polish author and expert prof. Z. Zygulski jr (original in Polish with translation to English).
Described saber is very fine and rare example of battle-use, probably Hungarian origin karabela saber. Signs of cross on the blade excludes Islamic origin. Blade latest from early 17th century, hilt and quillon later, from the late 18th or early 19th c. Sword’s blade feels little too heavy for delicate hilt, what confirms the hypothesis that excellent, old blade was later mounted into new hilt.
Condition report: blade has slight pitting from corrosion, small cracks from lamination of steel, also some scratches and dents. Guard with scratches and dents, remainings of patina in beds of dents. Grip plates in good contitions, with darker patina in dents and wear off according to the age. Tape between grip plates with scratches and small dents.
Bibliography:
„Kardok”, Joszef Lugosi, Ferenc Temeszvary, Budapest 1988.
„Ungarischer Säbel und Husaren-Pallasch”, Friedrich Jager, Germany 2010.