This is a translation into English of the original article about this sword that can be found here: https://mylittlearsenal.blogspot.com/2020/01/sable-oficial-infanteria-mod.-1887.html
Infantry Officers Saber, Model of 1887 -Spain-
1. Description
Curved blade 782 mm. of lenght. It presents no edge on the first third of the balde and a double edge on the rest of the blade. The inside edge is slightly shorter. The weapon weighs 663 gr. (without the scabbard) and its overall length is 926 mm.
The blade of this particular sample has the markings of the Toledo Arms Factory and of the year 1896: "FABA DE TOLEDO 1896".
The hilt presents a metal guard (in this sample made of some kind of copper or brass alloy). The grip is made of wood covered by rayskin and twisted copper wire. The guard is of the design known in Spain as "in the prussian style".
The scabbard is made of metal. Originaly this model of sabre had two rings on the scabbard, but the second ring was later eliminated of the design, as is the case in this sample.
This samples scabbard is marked 'J.FEU Barcelona'. This are possibly the markings of the maker of the scabbard and hilt (or of the merchant who comissioned de scabbard and the hilt to be mounted on the blades made in Toledo and then sold). I have had no luck researching 'J.FEU Barcelona' (if someone knows something please leave a comment). The furthest I have come is finding a Spanish uniform button of the Cuban War era for sale in the US. The sabers hilt and scabbard are made in the same non-magnetic metal and present a uniform patina so it is reasonable to assume that the scabbard is the original one of this saber.
Given that the Guard and scabbard are not steel, this sword does not entierely comply with the relevant regulations (as we will see later in this article, the material to be used was steel, heavier and prone to rusting). In fact, we have in our collection another Infantry Officers Saber, Model of 1887, also with a Toledo blade, but this one has the scabbard and guard made of steel, and we have also seen another example of this saber with steel guard and scabbard in the Historic Military Museum of the Canary Islands (Museo Militar Almeida, Santa Cruz de Tenerife).
The other saber in the collection.
The saber in the Historic Military Museum of the Canary Islands.
2. History of the model
2.1. The guard 'in the prussian style': This style of guard appears in Spain with the Light Cavalry saber, Model of 1860. There was a selection process started in 1856 where in the end the 'prussian model of reformed guard' was selected and approved by the 'Dirección General de Caballería' and the 'J.S.F. de Artillería' in 1860. This model was called 'Model of 1860' or 'Prussian Model'. It has a solid iron hilt rounded pommel and two 'ears' on the sides of the grip with a metal rod going throug the ears and grip.
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| http://hoploteca.blogspot.com/2019/07/sable-para-tropa-de-caballeria-modelo.html |
CALVÓ shares with us an interesting observation of the great lack of interest shown by Government regarding the matter. From the 'Royal Order of the 16th november 1860' we can gather that there were two models of sabers sent to the Ministry of War (one with the 'reformed prussian guard', one with the 'prussian guard') toguether with a third model, for comparison purposes (a Light Cavalry saber Model of 1840). What was the result?: 'Her Majesty the Queen has seen fit to approve the three models attached', even though one of the models was allready approved (and was sent for comparison) and the purpose of sending the other two was so that the Ministry would choose one of the models.
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| Top: 'prussian model' guard Bottom: 'reformed prussian guard' Illustrations by Eduardo Jiménez Sánchez-Malo (shown in L.CALVÓ "Espadas de Montar y Sables de Oficial de Caballería (IV)", Diciembre 2005 ) |
2.2 The Infantry Officers Dress Sword, Model of 1867: This was the regulation sword for infantry officers prior to the Saber Model of 1887. Here is a link to an article about this model of sword and the sample I own in my collection:
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| Colección Propia |
It has a straight blade of 770 mm. lenghts, no edge in the first third of the blade and a double edge in the rest of the blade. The hilt is made of brass.
The sword was adopted by Royal Order of 30th January 1867 and the model is described in the Infantry Uniform Regulations approved by Royal Order of 18th August 1877.
The sword remained in use along with the saber Model of 1887 until 1889. In Royal Order of 27th may 1887 is was stated that the saber would be used for ceremonies on horseback and that the dress dword would be used in ceremonies on foot. Two years later Royal Order of 15th October 1889 established a one year deadline for the infantry officers to acquire the saber Model of 1887 and prohibited the use of the dress sword at the end of this deadline.
2.3. The aproval of the Saber Model of 1887: The saber was approved by Royal Order of 27th May 1887 which also incorporates an illustration of the hilt and original model scabbard with the two rings:
3. Bibliography
BARCELÓ RUBÍ Bernardo, “Armamento Portátil Español (1764 – 1939), una labor artillera”, Editorial San Martín, Madrid, 1976, ISBN 84-7140-138-X
CALVÓ Juan L., “Espadas de Montar y Sables de Oficial de Caballería (IV) ‘Variantes de Oficial’ del Sable ‘Modelo Prusiano’”, Diciembre 2005 (http://www.catalogacionarmas.com/public/07-OflCab-4Ref.pdf)
“Colección legislativa del Ejército (1875-1984)”, Imprenta y Litografía del Depósito de la Guerra, 1875-1984, ISSN 0213-3180
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