Honor gift for the 25th anniversary of service in the regiment in 1907. Straight, double-fullered back-edged blade of Damascus steel, gilding still preserved to approximately 65%. On the false edge on the obverse side the designation "Eisenhauer Echt Damast", on the back the signature "Lorenz Stanko München", on the obverse side of the blade decorative etching with name scrolls of Field Marshal Leopold Prince of Bavaria as well as the officers of the regiment, in the center the motto "In Treue fest", on the reverse side additional officers' names, in the center the crowned regimental cipher. The gilded hilt furniture with 3 obverse bars richly decorated and hand engraved, checkered thumb rest, on the pommel the applied regimental cipher, on the inside of the crossguard with circumferential dedication engraving: "D. Off. Corps d. 1. Schw. Reit. Rgts “Prinz Karl v. Bayern” S.K.H. d. Prinzen Alfons von Bayern à. l. s. d. Rgts, General der Kavallerie, z. Erg. a.d. v. 25 Jahr. erfolgten Eintritt i.d. 1. schw. R. Rgt. 1882-1907". The grip of horn with intact wire wrap. Complete with the original sword knot for officers. Black lacquered steel scabbard with one movable suspension ring, drag stamped "236" (one throat screw missing). Overall length 105.5 cm. The pallash shows wear with light signs of use and age, in very fine condition.

From July 15, 1892 to December 18, 1899, Prince Alfons of Bavaria was regimental commander and from 1901 stood à la suite.

Prince Alfons Maria Franz Clemens Maximilian of Bavaria (1862 - 1933), a grandson of Ludwig I of Bavaria. His parents were Prince Adalbert Wilhelm of Bavaria (brother of Prince Regent Luitpold) and his consort Infanta Amalia Philippa Pilar of Spain. In 1891 Alfons married Louise Victoire d'Orléans at Nymphenburg Palace. Alfons advanced through all ranks in the 1st Heavy Cavalry Regiment up to regimental commander, in 1899 he became general and commander of the 1st Cavalry Brigade, in 1909 he became proprietor of the 7th Bavarian Chevauleger Regiment, in 1913 chief of the Dragoon Regiment "Freiherr von Manteuffel" (Rhenish) No. 5 stationed in Hofgeismar. He is buried in the Michaelskirche in München.

312231

€ 23.500,00

Bavaria Magnificent Presentation Pallash of the Officers' Corps of the Royal Bavarian 1st Heavy Cavalry Regiment "Prince Karl of Bavaria" to Prince Alfons of Bavaria

This magnificent presentation pallasch represents a significant tradition of the German military establishment in the late Imperial period: the presentation of honorary gifts by officers' corps to high-ranking personalities on special occasions. Such ceremonial weapons were not intended for combat use but served as material embodiments of loyalty, comradeship, and military honor.

The Royal Bavarian 1st Heavy Cavalry Regiment “Prince Karl of Bavaria” belonged to the most traditional cavalry units of the Bavarian army. The Heavy Cavalry, also known as cuirassiers, had formed the heavy cavalry since the 17th century and were equipped with pallasches and protective armor. The regiment bore its honorary name after Prince Karl Theodor of Bavaria and was stationed in Munich, where it played an important role in the military and social life of the Bavarian capital.

Prince Alfons of Bavaria (1862-1933) descended from the House of Wittelsbach and was a grandson of King Ludwig I. His military career was exemplary for a Bavarian prince of the Imperial period. After joining the 1st Heavy Cavalry Regiment in 1882, he progressed through all officer ranks and was appointed regimental commander on July 15, 1892. He held this position until December 18, 1899, when he was promoted to Major General and Commander of the 1st Cavalry Brigade. However, his connection to the regiment remained: From 1901, he stood à la suite of the regiment, an honorary position expressing the special attachment of a high-ranking officer or prince to his former unit.

The creation of the pallasch took place in 1907 on the occasion of the prince's 25th service anniversary with the regiment. Such anniversaries were celebrated with great ceremony in the Imperial army. The choice of a pallasch as a gift was by no means coincidental: the pallasch was the traditional edged weapon of the heavy cavalry and thus directly symbolized the branch of service and the regiment itself.

The renowned Munich weapons maker Lorenz Stanko was commissioned for the manufacture, whose signature appears on the blade. The use of Damascus steel, as documented by the designation “Eisenhauer Echt Damast,” underscores the special character of the piece. Damascus steel had long been regarded as particularly noble and was primarily used in the 19th century for high-quality presentation weapons. The elaborate decorative engraving and gilding met the highest standards of contemporary weaponsmithing.

The decoration of the blade followed a sophisticated iconographic program. On one side are name banderoles of the regiment's officers, led by Field Marshal Leopold Prince of Bavaria, the royal commander and later Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Front in World War I. The central motto “In Treue fest” (Steadfast in Loyalty) embodies the ethos of the Prussian-German officer corps and the special oath of loyalty to the ruling house. On the reverse side is the crowned regimental cipher, visualizing the connection to the Bavarian monarchy.

The hilt shows the characteristic form of the Bavarian officer's saber with three bars and elaborate hand engraving. The applied regimental cipher on the pommel and the detailed dedication engraving on the inside of the guard make the piece a unique historical document. The engraving explicitly names the occasion, the recipient, and the period of regimental affiliation (1882-1907), making the pallasch a kind of three-dimensional document.

The accompanying sword knot (portepee), the decorative wrist strap loop for officers, completes the equipment. In the Bavarian army, sword knots differed in color and design according to rank and branch of service. The black steel scabbard with movable suspension ring corresponds to the standard design for cavalry officers of this period.

After his time with the 1st Heavy Cavalry Regiment, Prince Alfons continued his impressive military career. In 1909 he became proprietor of the 7th Bavarian Chevauleger Regiment, and in 1913 chief of the Dragoon Regiment “Freiherr von Manteuffel” (Rhenish) No. 5 stationed in Hofgeismar. These honorary positions as regimental proprietor or chief were customary for members of the royal house and strengthened the bond between dynasty and army.

Such ceremonial pallasches document not only the outstanding craftsmanship of German weaponsmithing around 1900 but also the complex social and symbolic structures of the Imperial officer corps. They expressed the corporate culture of the officers, who understood themselves as a sworn community with shared values, traditions, and a pronounced code of honor. The presentation of such gifts strengthened esprit de corps and manifested the hierarchical relationships within the military elite of the German Empire.

The weapon also reflects the special relationship between the Bavarian royal house and its army. While Bavaria had maintained its own military administration within the German Empire after 1871, Bavarian princes served as visible symbols of the connection between throne and military. Prince Alfons himself represented this tradition perfectly: as both a member of the ruling dynasty and a professional soldier who earned respect through decades of service.

Today, such presentation weapons are important historical sources that provide insight into the self-understanding, value systems, and material culture of the Imperial military elite. They represent a world that disappeared forever with the end of World War I and the fall of the German monarchies in 1918.