This is a particularly elaborate deluxe manufacture by the maker P. Knecht, Solingen, circa 1828. The presentation saber in the à la Mameluke style features a high-quality forged, flat-fullered back-edged blade made of decorated and gilt genuine damascus with beautiful pattern and double-edged point with so-called carp's tongue. On both sides over 2/3 with extremely detailed and varied chased etched decoration of weapon trophies, various tendrils with figures and between historical ornamentation the coat of arms of the bearer with crowned name cipher, and on the obverse the elongated, three-line inscription field “Seiner Durchlaucht, dem Obrist, Prinz von Wittgenstein, von den Officier's des Garde Regiments Chevaux Legers, als einen Beweis ihrer Liebe und Verehrung am Tage seiner 25 jährigen Dienstfeyer, den 31. Mai 1828.”. Beside it quality banderole “Knecht's Damast” and “P. Knecht in Solingen 1828”. The back bears a tendril decoration on gilt ground extending to the point. The hilt in Mameluke style with genuine silver mounts and grip scales of mother-of-pearl and circumferential silver grip band, the pommel with a silver-framed opening for a sword knot. The cruciform silver crossguard with polished, profiled tendril decoration over blackened ground, the crossguard with set-off ball finials. Complete with the associated bright steel scabbard with genuine silver mounts, the silver carrying ring bands in the same style as the crossguard, the silver chape overlay, the drag double-screwed at the side, silver locket inlay.
The saber is only very lightly worn and is in wonderful original condition, condition 2+.
Included is a framed lithograph with the portrait in uniform and the saber offered here after a painting by Johann Hartmann (from the year 1839) as General Adjutant of the Grand Duke of Hesse, Major General of the 1st Infantry Brigade and Commander of the Guard Regiment Chevauxlegers. In original frame behind glass (height 74cm, width 60cm), somewhat bumped.

Provenance: from the estate of the Princes Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, House Wittgenstein Rottach-Egern

August Ludwig Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1788-1874 in Berleburg) was in Hesse-Darmstadt service from 1803-1848, initially in the Leibregiment in Darmstadt, 1814 promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the Leibregiment, participant in the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle of Leipzig, 1830 to Commander of the Garde Regiment Chevaulegers, 1832 to General Adjutant, 1835 to Major General and 1840 to Lieutenant General. From 1842 Commander of the Cavalry Brigade. In 1852 he became Lieutenant General of the Ducal Nassau Army. Also active as diplomat and 1852-1866 Minister of State of the Duchy of Nassau, in the year 1849 he was Reich Minister of War and Reich Minister President of the Provisional Central Authority. He was bearer of numerous orders and decorations.

490396

Grand Duchy of Hesse, Presentation Saber of August Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg from the year 1828 - Hessian-Nassau General, Minister of State and Reich Minister of War.

This exceptional Mameluke-style presentation sabre (Ehrensäbel) stands as a remarkable testament to early nineteenth-century German military culture, craftsmanship, and the bonds between a commander and his officers. Presented on May 31, 1828, to Prince August Ludwig zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg by the officers of the Garde Regiment Chevauxlegers of the Grand Duchy of Hesse, this unique weapon commemorated twenty-five years of distinguished military service.

The blade bears a three-line dedicatory inscription reading: “Seiner Durchlaucht, dem Obrist, Prinz von Wittgenstein, von den Officier’s des Garde Regiments Chevaux Legers, als einen Beweis ihrer Liebe und Verehrung am Tage seiner 25 jährigen Dienstfeyer, den 31. Mai 1828.” — that is, “To His Serene Highness, the Colonel, Prince von Wittgenstein, from the Officers of the Garde Regiment Chevaux Legers, as a proof of their love and esteem on the day of his 25th service anniversary, May 31, 1828.”

The Recipient: A Soldier, Diplomat, and Statesman

August Ludwig Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg was born on March 6, 1788, at Schloss Berleburg and died on January 6, 1874, in the same town. His military career began in 1803 when he entered service as a Premierleutnant in the Leibregiment at Darmstadt. During the Napoleonic Wars, he fought initially on the French side in campaigns across Prussia, Austria, Russia, and Saxony. Following the Battle of Leipzig, he switched to the allied side and continued fighting in France. He was promoted to Captain in 1812 and to Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) in 1814, at which point he also assumed command of the Leibregiment.

At the time this sabre was presented in 1828, the Prince held the rank of Obrist (Colonel) and had completed a quarter-century of continuous service in the Hessian-Darmstadt military. From 1830, he became commander of the very regiment whose officers had gifted him this weapon — the Garderegiment Chevauxlegers. His subsequent promotions were steady and distinguished: Generaladjutant in 1832, Generalmajor in 1835, and Generalleutnant in 1840.

The Prince’s career extended far beyond the military sphere. From 1835 to 1844, he served as Hessian ambassador to Prussia. In 1849, during the tumultuous period following the revolutions of 1848, he rose to become Reichsministerpräsident (Minister-President) of the Provisional Central Authority — effectively head of government of a nascent German national executive. From February 7, 1852, until June 30, 1866, he served as Staatsminister (Minister of State) of the Duchy of Nassau. The Austro-Prussian War of 1866 ended with the annexation of Nassau by Prussia, which also brought his political career to a close. Among his many honors were the Nassau Hausorden vom Goldenen Löwen, bestowed by Duke Adolph in 1858, the Grand Cross of the Military and Civil Service Order of Adolf of Nassau with Swords, the Nassau Service Honour Badge for Officers after 50 years of service, and the Medal for the Campaign of 1866. He spent his final years at Schloss Berleburg.

The Maker: P. Knecht of Solingen

The blade carries the quality markings “Knecht’s Damast” and “P. Knecht in Solingen 1828.” Solingen, long known as the “City of Blades” (Klingenstadt), has been renowned for centuries as a center of fine sword and blade manufacturing. Johann Peter Knecht founded his own edged-weapons manufacturing facility in Solingen in 1823, succeeding his father Peter Wilhelm Knecht. This presentation sabre, dating to 1828, is a product of the firm’s early years and testifies to the extraordinary quality that the workshop achieved within a short time of its establishment.

The Mameluke Style: Origins and Significance

The Mameluke sword style traces its origins to Napoleon’s Egyptian campaigns, during which the French emperor raised Mameluke units. The distinctive curved blade and cross-guard design subsequently became fashionable among French officers, and in the post-Napoleonic period this style spread widely, including to Britain. Mameluke swords were adopted by officers of light cavalry regiments from the first decade of the nineteenth century; some were used as so-called “walking out swords” for ornamental wear on social occasions. As officially regulated dress or levée swords, they first appeared in 1822 for lancer regiments and were later adopted by other light cavalry and some heavy cavalry units.

It is important to note that this sabre is not a regulation service weapon but rather a luxury custom-made presentation piece (Ehrensäbel or Prunksäbel). The elaborate decoration — a flat fullered damascus blade with etched, chiseled, and gilded ornamentation featuring weapon trophies, figures, and historical ornament over two-thirds of the blade length, genuine silver fittings, mother-of-pearl grip scales, a cross-shaped silver guard with spherical knobs, and a polished steel scabbard with silver mounts — all speak to the extraordinary investment made by the presenting officers.

The Grand Duchy of Hesse and the Chevauxlegers

In 1806, Hessen-Darmstadt became a founding member of the Confederation of the Rhine, with the state elevated to a Grand Duchy. As part of this transformation, the cavalry regiment was renamed the Gardes-Chevauleger Regiment. It was the officers of this prestigious guard cavalry unit who commissioned and presented this sabre.

Provenance and Accompanying Portrait

The sabre comes from the estate of the Princes Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg at Haus Wittgenstein, Rottach-Egern. Accompanying the weapon is a framed lithograph portrait after a painting by Johann Hartmann from 1839, depicting the Prince in uniform as Generaladjutant of the Grand Duke of Hesse, Generalmajor of the 1st Infantry Brigade, and Commander of the Garde Regiment Chevauxlegers — visibly wearing this very sabre. The existence of such a portrait, in which the recipient chose to be depicted with this specific weapon, underscores the personal importance he attached to this gift from his brother officers.

As a unique, individually commissioned work of art and arms, this Ehrensäbel encapsulates a quarter-century of loyal service, the deep mutual regard between commander and officers, and the exceptional craftsmanship of Solingen’s finest bladesmiths — all in the service of a man who would go on to shape the political destiny of multiple German states during one of the most transformative periods in European history.