A scarce Faschinenmesser to the Kingdom of Saxony marked to the 104th (5th Royal Saxon) Infantry Regiment.
£375
A scarce brass hilted Pre Unification Faschinenmesser (Fascine Knife) manufactured for the Kingdom of Saxony marked to the 104th (5th Royal Saxon) Infantry Regiment in its regimentally marked scabbard to the 101st regiment (2nd Royal Saxon Grenadiers). Ribbed brass hilt with recurved cruciform cross guard engraved with regimental issue markings 104. R. 8. 111. For issue to the 104th (5th Royal Saxon) German Infantry Regiment. Medium weight 18 ½” single edged machete profile blade. In its brass mounted leather scabbard with unit markings 101.R. 4. 236, the regimental markings of a second Saxon German regiment, the101st regiment (2nd Royal Saxon Grenadiers). Double marking seems quite common on these weapons and could either indicate re issue to the Grenadiers later in life or reissue of a scabbard to replace one damaged in use. Issued to troops of the various German kingdoms from the early 1840’s until the adoption of the small calibre 1888 commission rifle these were popular weapons being useful both for engineering duties such as fascine making as the name suggests as well as camp duties such as chopping firewood while also being a very effective weapon used in its own right as a short sword. These Saxon issue weapons came in two weights, the heaviest of the patterns manufactured being issued to branches of the Saxon artillery and these lighter, by about 1lb in weight weapons going to the infantry and Grenadier regiments who did not require such a heavy work tool preferring a blade better adapted to combat use in the field. In good condition with clean, sharply defined hilt, clean blade and a good scabbard with all intact stitching. An interesting and scarce weapon from the Saxon army of Pre unification Germany.
