Original Early Prussian NCO Sidearm circa 1740 with Later Family Document Dated 1795 Original Items

Original Items: One of a Kind Set. This came to us from a German family who insisted that their ancestor had been initially a trooper and later an N.C.O., in King FREDERICK the GREAT’S army starting in the 1750’s or 1760’s and retiring only after many years service, by then in the service of Frederick the Great’s successor, his nephew, KING FREDERICK WILHELM II of Prussia who reigned until 1797.

The sidearm, a brass-hilted short sword, almost a Cutlass with a curved blade measuring 30 1/2″ with a double blood fuller running down each side. Overall length is 36 1/2 inches, and the blade also bears the remains of decorative engraving, which is now unreadable but which we’re fairly certain bore the arms and motto of King Frederick. The brass hilt is of high quality, having a three bar guard, solid turned engraved brass grip and heavily embossed decoration on the right guard plate. Clearly the sidearm of a senior N.C.O. dating to many years before the American War for Independence.

This very fine sword is accompanied by a Document, in German, dated the Fourteenth of October 1797 in scroll long hand, bearing the stamp of the State of Prussia in the top left hand corner and the personal crest in a circle of King Frederick William II on the top right. Due to age the document is now in two pieces having separated at a fold but can still be displayed as a unit. The document measures 14″ X 11″ has accompanied the sidearm since being written in 1795 and perhaps bears some relevance to the sidearms owner, maybe his discharge or some other related document. We unfortunately have not been able to decipher it. A great Research project!

However in respect to the family we offer the sidearm together with the document with Royal connections as a set, ready to display.