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A gift sword of the Austro-Hungarian Dragoon
Regiment “Duke of Lorraine” No. 7, circa 1910
In the style of the M 1904 officer’s cavalry
sword, deluxe version. The fullered blade with
Damascus steel pattern, the regimental motto
“Brothers’ pride, foes’ fear” and the etched
name of the regimental officers, among them
Franz Lobkowitz, Arenstorff, Aichelburg etc.,
double-edged and slightly ridged point, struck
at the root with the inscription “Carl Grasser -
Hof- & Armee Waffenfabrik” (supplier) and
“Weyersberg & Co. Solingen” (maker). The
steel hilt nickel-plated in silver, very finely
pierced and engraved with the crowned
Austrian double eagle and a portrait medal-
lion of Karl V. Leopold (1643-1690), Duke of
Lorraine and Bar with corresponding signa-
ture, a pommel with cut coat of arms (to be
used as a seal), the grip covered with fish skin,
silver wire wrap, tang, attached sword knot
with the monogram of Emperor Franz Joseph
I. The steel scabbard also nickel-plated. Total
length of sword 98 cm.
Depending on the financial means and aes-
thetic preferences of the donors, custom
swords with finely crafted hilts and high-qual-
ity blades were commissioned, and the officers
selected their preferred motifs, such as Saint
George (patron of the cavalry), Saint Barbara
(patron of the artillery), the imperial double
eagle or the royal Hungarian coat of arms.
The Austro-Hungarian regiment “Duke of
Lorraine” No. 7 was one of the most honour-
able units of the entire monarchy. During his
officer’s training, Archduke Carl Franz
Joseph of Austria (later emperor Karl I of
Austria, King of Hungary, Bohemia etc.) was
transferred from the Uhlan’s regiment no. 2 to
the Dragoon regiment no. 7 in 1909. He stayed
there until 1913. Karl married also in this uni-
form Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma. Until
his death in 1922 Prince Zdenko of Lobkow-
itz, who also served in this regiment, was as-
signed as his chamberlain. Every year the regi-
ment holds a memorial mass during the spring
parade in early April to honour the emperor.
C
f
.
a similar sword in the arms collection Carl
Beck – Sursee
(http://www.waffensammlung- beck.ch/waffe69.html).
Exceptional, significant gift sword.
246502
II +
€ 6.000
6690