This weapon is an exquisite custom-made piece of the highest quality! The slightly curved blade is 3.2 cm wide and 87.1 cm long, with a wide fuller on both sides. The blade is almost completely decorated with the finest etchings and is blued and gilded. The etchings consist of scrollwork and trophies in a partially classicizing style. On the obverse, a pyramid with a fire altar in front and two figures with a victory wreath and trumpet; at the apex of the pyramid is engraved the crowned cipher of the King “EA”, below which, in a gilded cartouche surrounded by a laurel wreath, is the facsimile signature of the King "Ernst August" as well as weapon trophies. At the ricasso, the maker's mark "P. Knecht". On the reverse, within an oak leaf wreath, the presentation inscription "Solingen am 1. September 1841.", weapon trophies, and toward the ricasso "Solingen 1841". On the back edge is stamped “Solingen”. The hilt is made of gilt brass with a lion's head, the guard designed in the form of a "coiling serpent", the grip wrapped in finest white ray skin. The weapon was presented together with several other presentation sabers and samples, each without scabbard. Condition 2+.

Overall length 103 cm.

The present weapon is a gift from the firm Peter Knecht to King Ernst August I of Hannover on the occasion of his visit to the firm in Solingen on September 1, 1841. The purpose of the visit was the King's intention to procure new edged weapons for the Hanoverian Army. This unique piece served to demonstrate to the King the artistry of the firm P. Knecht.
The visit was also reported in the “Solinger Kreis-Intelligenzblatt” in its issue No. 70 of September 4, 1841 on page 4: "Solingen, September 1, 1841. Today around midday, the inhabitants of our city were most pleasantly surprised by the arrival of His Majesty the King of Hannover, ... His Majesty was pleased to alight at the residence of our fellow citizen Mr. Peter Knecht and ..., to inspect in Highest Person his renowned weapons manufactory - weapons and art collections. The exalted traveler displayed the liveliest interest in our German industrial diligence and observed the processing of all individual parts ... to completion!" (https://zeitpunkt.nrw/ulbbn/periodical/zoom/7770529).

An object of historical and museum significance!

458817

Kingdom of Hannover Presentation Saber by the Firm Knecht in Solingen as a Gift to the King of Hannover Ernst August I on the Occasion of His Visit in 1841

This magnificent ceremonial presentation saber represents a remarkable moment in the history of German weaponsmithing and European monarchy. On September 1, 1841, King Ernst August I of Hannover visited the city of Solingen with the purpose of procuring new edged weapons for the Hanoverian Army. During this visit, the weapons manufacturer Johann Peter Knecht presented him with this unique saber as a gift, intended to demonstrate the exceptional craftsmanship of his firm.

The manufacturer Johann Peter Knecht, born March 3, 1798 at Gut Schlicken near Solingen and died November 21, 1852 in Solingen, had founded his own edged weapons manufacturing company in 1823 after initially working in his father's firm Peter Wilhelm Knecht Söhne. His factory had already won silver honor medals at Berlin industrial exhibitions in 1822, 1827, and 1844. Since 1824, the company maintained a depot and agency in Paris, underlining its international significance.

The royal recipient of this magnificent piece, Ernst August I, was born June 5, 1771 in London and died November 18, 1851 in Hannover. As the fifth son of King George III of the United Kingdom, he had pursued a distinguished military career: he entered the Hanoverian Army in 1791, was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1798, to General in 1803, and appointed Field Marshal on November 26, 1813. In 1837 he ascended to the Hanoverian throne when Queen Victoria inherited the British throne and the personal union between Britain and Hannover ended due to different succession laws. He reigned until his death in 1851.

The visit to Solingen took place in a particular political and economic context. Ernst August I was known as a conservative monarch who in 1837 had suspended the 1833 constitution, causing the famous protest of the “Göttinger Sieben” (Seven of Göttingen). By 1840 he had introduced a modified constitution. In 1841, when this presentation occurred, he was consolidating his rule and modernizing Hannover's military capabilities.

For the Solingen weaponsmiths, this visit represented a significant opportunity. The early 1830s had brought economic difficulties to Solingen manufacturers, particularly after the July Revolution of 1830 disrupted trade with France, Belgium, and Holland. Peter Knecht had sought new markets domestically and in South America. The 1841 royal visit offered the prospect of lucrative military contracts with the Hanoverian Army.

The visit was documented in the “Solinger Kreis-Intelligenzblatt” No. 70 of September 4, 1841. On page 4, the newspaper reported that on September 1, 1841 at midday, the inhabitants of the city were most pleasantly surprised by the arrival of His Majesty the King of Hannover. His Majesty was pleased to dismount at citizen Peter Knecht's residence and to inspect his well-known weapons factory as well as his weapons and art collections. The report emphasized that the distinguished traveler displayed the liveliest interest in German industriousness and observed the processing of all individual parts through to completion.

On this occasion, the present saber was presented as a unique piece, together with several other gift sabers and samples, all without scabbards. The weapon with its slightly curved blade measuring 87.1 cm in length and 3.2 cm in width demonstrates the highest craftsmanship of the Solingen weaponsmiths. The blade features a broad fuller on both sides and is almost completely decorated with the finest etchings as well as being blued and gilded. The hilt made of gilt brass shows a lion head, the guard is formed as a coiling snake, and the grip is covered with fine white ray skin.

The overall length of the weapon is 103 cm. This exceptional piece documents not only the technical mastery of the Solingen weaponsmiths in the nineteenth century, but also the diplomatic and economic relationships between craft enterprises and European royal houses. It represents an object of historical and museum significance.