Send us your own comments about this object.

Title:	SABER -  SABER
Maker/Manufacturer:	WEYERSBERG
Date of Manufacture:
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 6808
Measurements:	OL:103.5CM 40 3/4" BL: 86.3CM 34"

Object Description:

SABER
Manufactured by Gebruder Weyersberg, Solingen, Germany
Complete with 35 1/2" metal scabbard with one ring.
Markings:
Ricasso: F & ARMEE WAFFN????/CARL ERASSER. Reverse: WEYERSBERG & CO./SOLINGEN. Guard: S.

Army Ledger: "Sword and Scabbard.... Waffenfabrenken solingen marked on blade."

Notes: "THE COMPANY - The Weyersberg family of Solingen can only be described as a swordmaking dynasty. Weyersbergs were prominent swordmakers in Solingen by the early 1400s - and probably even earlier. The partnership of Gebruder Weyersberg was established in 1787 by htree Weyersberg brothers: Wilhelm, Peter and Johann Ludwig (gebruder means 'brothers' in English). It seems that they were successful from the very beginning, having produced almost 17% of all Solingen-made blades in the year before they established the formal company. These men were 'born to the trade' and were not starting out from scratch.
In 1788, a permanent blade store was established in Frankfurt am Main, due to large orders from Italy and France. Peter Weyersberg died in 1829, and the firm passed on to this sons Albert and Gustav, wo along with their sons Herman and Fritz, were the family member controllers of the firm during the years that we are intertested in for this book. In the years following the American Civil War, there was a rather confusing series of mergers, purchases and reorganizations, resulting in Weyersberg, Krischbaum & Cie - perhaps the most famous cutlery firm in world history, and one that has survived in various incarnations into present day times.
Many Gebruder Weyersberg blades are found with the family's famous king's head blade mark, but others were also used. A cockerel (rooster) mark is found in two form on model 1840 cavalry sabers.
- King's head with a 5-pointed crown: most often seen on officer's sabers
- Cockerel (rooster/bird-like figure in scale)
- Rooster (a comic figure with a large neck and head, and a tiny body.
Horstmann used Gebruder Weyersberg blades on most of their better swords. Very few Gebruder Weyersberg swords are not retailer makred, with the exception of their enlisted cavalry sabers. Their blade strike appears on sabers with beautifully etched blade and plain blades, including officers' cavalry sabers and infantry swords. Only artillery sabers have not been seen with the famous king's head blade strike. Horstmann did use a cavalry blade on its artillery sabers, perhaps because Gebruder Weyersberg did not make an artillery-type blade.
The firm seems ot have made the conventional model 1840 heavy cavalry saber blade (the blade having a fuller and medium ridge running to the tip) in great quantities than any other type. Furthermore, they seem to have intentionally left off their blade strike on some sabers and included only the retailer's name - Horstmann being the best example of this practice.
This company was a prolific maker of swords. Almost any Civil War or collectors' arms shows will have a number of examples of the company's officers' swords or enlisted sabers. Some of their blades are truly superb with a very fine high-quality etching, sometimes with a gold wash overlaid on the etching pattern. It is difficult to find a Gebruder Weyersberg sword that is not retailer etched...." - Thillmann

References:
Thillmann, John H. CIVIL WAR CAVALRY & ARTILLERY SABERS: A STUDY OF UNITED STATES CAVALRY AND ARTILLERY SABERS, 1833-1865. Andrew Mowbray Publishers. Lincoln, R.I. 2001.