This wonderful M1765/77 Prima Plana dates from last quarter of 18th century.
Swords of this style were carried by officers of company grade and senior non-commissioned officers in the Austrian and Hungarian infantry and grenadier regiments.
Hilt is in original untouched condition, with nicely decorated early style langets, which were usually left plain. Leather is in excellent condition, sword is very tight, and feels very comfortable to hold.
Blade is is 72 cm long, 3.5 cm wide at the ricasso. Blade is decorated on both sides, featuring the Turk's head and various kabbalistic and talismanic symbols. There are signs of period cleanings on the blade.
A curious historical note:
1903 Catalog of the Austrian Imperial Army Museum lists several Prima Planas. For instance -
Nr. 16 Prima Plana säbel (1792-1806) brass handle with lion head pommel blade of 80cm long, 3,2cm wide, and engraved with imitation Turkish lettering and emblems.
Nr.443 Prima Plana säbel (1777-92) Pommel with lion's head, the blade is 72cm long, 3.4 cm wide, engraved on both sides with ornaments, Turk's head and Turkish characters.Museum was largely destroyed in the 1945 bombings, and 2/3 of its holdings, some priceless, have perished.
The Turk's head and the talismanic symbols present on the blade sound very similar to the swords described in the 1903 Vienna Army Museum Catalog. Perchance this sword was one of the ones salvaged from the ruins of the Army Museum, and taken to the US by an American soldier or officer. It came up a few years back in an otherwise very provincial auction in New England. The yarn starts and ends there. What remains is a wonderful sword.
