Help with sword identification please

[warrelic]

Good morning gentlemen. I'm new to the forum and was hoping you could help me identify a sword I just purchased. I believe it's a civil war cavalry sword, but you all would know better than I would. I purchased it for my son and I have very little information about it. I'm including photos of every marking I could find. If you need better photos of any particular part, or if there is another place I should look on the sword for markings, please let me know. I would like to learn everything I can about it. Thanks for your help!!

 

[Larryh86GT]

It looks similar to the Imperial German Army Officer's Sword:

http://www.arms2armor.com/Swords/heerswd1.htm

And also the German NCO saber:

http://www.arms2armor.com/Swords/germnco1.htm

 

[Frederick14Va]

It is the pattern of the 1796 British Light Cavalry Saber... which was copied by many. The "P" guard was a popular style during the Napoleonic era, and retained by some for many decades in Europe. While this one isnt necessarily a "Civil War" era sword, many of these were still around and used. This may or may not be one of those since lots of these are still around obtainable in Europe.

 

[warrelic]

Thanks gents! Is the 1831 stamped on the blade the year it was manufactured?

 

[Schwallanscher]

It looks similar to the Imperial German Army Officer's Sword:

http://www.arms2armor.com/Swords/heerswd1.htm

And also the German NCO saber:

http://www.arms2armor.com/Swords/germnco1.htm

no way

@warrelic welcome to the club

 

[Richard E. Schenk]

Your sword is a Prussian M1811 saber, usually called a Blucher saber. It was essentially the same as the British P1796 light cavalry saber and was adopted by the Prussians in 1811 and continued in service well into German Imperial times. Those made before about 1830 were undated, but later examples are dated on the blade like is seen on yours. The mark on the hilt above the langet is the regimental mark. I am really not familiar with these, but German arms collectors could likely tell you exactly which element had this sword. Given the markings, it is unlikely this sword was used in the CW