Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of the classic Prussian Model 1889 Cavalry Sword, as used by Hussar and other traditional cavalry units. It features a straight thrusting blade, and a basket hilt guard.

The guard is partly "fold-away", and that portion also bears the Prussian Eagle on it, with the shield of the House of Hohenzollern on the chest. The grip is molded dark brown bakelite or gutta percha, and is in very good shape, with little wear, and no cracks or chips. The blade buffer washers are still present.

The 33 inch blade of this example is in good shape, but does show a lot of past staining and light oxidation. There is also some denting on the edge of the blade, so this example looks to have seen actual use, which still occurred at the time, though it was not very common. It's also possible it was from settling a dispute with another officer, as sword duels were still fairly common in Prussia at the time.

The spine is marked with a small Crown over W over 97 for Kaiser Wilhelm 1897. The maker is OTTO MERTENS / SOLINGEN and is stamped under the rain guard (chappe) on the ricasso. Under the opposite rain guard is the arsenal marking of Crown over ERFURT.

Additionally, this sword is marked on the cross guard with unit marking 2. R. H. 2. 62., in the standard German regimental form. This would indicate the unit 2nd Reserve Hussars, part of 33rd Reserve Division, IV Corps. The 33rd Reserve Division (33. Reserve-Division) was a unit of the Imperial German Army, in World War I. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was disbanded in August 1918. The division began the war as part of the central reserve of Fortress Metz.

The scabbard is the standard steel straight type with a single hanger ring. There is a slot on the inside, so this is a dress scabbard, not a field scabbard. It does not have any major bends or dents in the shell, just the same type of light oxidation and pitting as seen on the blade.

Overall an attractive M1889 Cavalry Presentation from the Imperial German Hussars. Ready to research and display!

Specifications:
Overall length: 38 1/2”
Blade length: 32”
Blade Style: Straight Single Edged Spear Point
Basket dimensions: 5" width x 5” length
Scabbard Length: 33 ⅛”

33rd Reserve Division (German Empire)
The 33rd Reserve Division (33. Reserve-Division) was a unit of the Imperial German Army, in World War I. The division was formed on the mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was disbanded in August 1918. The division began the war as part of the central reserve of Fortress Metz (Hauptreserve/Festung Metz).

Although designated a reserve division, it was initially composed of one active and one reserve infantry brigade. The active brigade was the 8th Bavarian Infantry Brigade, which had been detached from the 4th Bavarian Infantry Division. The rest of the division's troops came primarily from the Prussian Rhine Province and the Province of Westphalia.

Combat Chronicle
The 33rd Reserve Division began the war on the Western Front, where it fought in the Battle of the Frontiers and advanced to the Verdun region. From September 1914 to August 1916, it occupied the line in the region between the Meuse and Moselle Rivers. In late 1916, it suffered heavy losses in the later phases of the 1916 Battle of Verdun. After a few months in the trenches in Lorraine, it went to the Chemin des Dames region and fought in the Second Battle of the Aisne, also known as the Third Battle of Champagne (and to the Germans as the Double Battle on the Aisne and in the Champagne), and again suffered heavy losses. In September 1917, the division was transferred to the Eastern Front, arriving shortly before the December armistice on that front. It returned to the Western Front in January 1918, where it fought in several engagements, including the Aisne and the Champagne-Marne offensives against French and American forces, after which it was disbanded and its troops distributed to other divisions. Allied intelligence rated it as a good division in 1917, but before its dissolution in 1918, it was rated as fourth class.