POLNISCHER ODER ÖSTERREICHISCHER KARABELA SÄBEL, 19. JHDT. SCHWERT Origin: Poland or Austria, 19th

POLNISCHER ODER ÖSTERREICHISCHER KARABELA SÄBEL, 19. JHDT. SCHWERT

Origin: Poland or Austria, 19th century.
Karabela type saber, one of the most desired European edged weapons, used by Polish and Lithuanian nobility and famous winged hussars from 17th to late 19th century. The eagle head hilt (called karabela after Polish tradition) was used also in Russia, Balkans, Turkey, Persia.
This karabela sabre belongs to group IV according to the classification by Professor Z. ?ygulski jr. and dates to 19th century. Length 97,6 cm.
Blade: Slender, slightly curved single edged blade with two narrow and one wide fullers. Quite short false edge (yelmen). Length of the blade – 85,8 cm, width – 29,6 mm.
Hilt: eagle shaped (karabela type) carved grips of black horn, with iron tape between. Iron crossguard with hammered floral motifs in the middle. Tang rivet with flower – pattern rosette on the top of the pommel. Length of the cross-guard 14 cm.
Scabbard: absent.
Condition report: Blade cleaned, with remains of patina and black spots. Not cleaned near the crossguard. In places pitting from corrosion, more dense near the tip. Scratches and dents, cuts. Cracks in places of lamination of steel. Crossguard is cleaned, original patina remaining in indentations. Grip plates with some amount of wear, scratches and dents. One grip plate with crack in the middle going along. Tang rivet with remains of patina, with scratches and dents.