This is a gorgeous example of an Austro-Hungarian Model of 1904 Cavalry Officer’s sword. Unit marked 5.H.E. 170 on the Ricasso. This saber was adopted for service in 1904 by the cavalry regiments of the Austro-Hungarian Army. All of the armies which went to war in 1914 incorporated a significant cavalry element. With aerial observation in its infancy, cavalry provided the main means of reconnaissance for all the combatants during the opening campaigns of the war. Mounted troops continued to play a significant role on the Eastern Front long after complex trench systems had rendered them superfluous in the West.
The 33 3/4” blade is in good condition and is marked on the ricasso:
Maker Marked BUDAPEST
UNIT MARKED - 5.H.E. 170
Manufactured in Budapest
The grip material is a ray skin rather than sharkskin shagreen. The edges of the guard are turned over to protect the wearer's uniform from chafing, and two narrow elongated oval slots are formed, side-by-side, in the upper guard, above the blade.
The original 35 1/4 inch steel scabbard retains most of its original black paint.
A great example of an Austro-Hungarian WWI Cavalry saber, ready for further research and display.
