Original Item: Only One Available. Just acquired at a recent military show! This is a very nice Italian Regulation Model 1903 Officer's Saber, as used by the legendary Italian Bersaglieri light infantry units. Almost from their inception they had utilized their own design officer swords, first introduced in 1850, and then revised in 1871 and later 1903, as the swords became more ornamental than functional. This was not a trend isolated to Italy, as swords were almost functionally obsolete by the start of the first world war. The blades on these are however still quite strong, and with the clip point tip, very capable of dealing deadly wounds.

The sword features a 29 3/4 inch etched steel blade, which looks to be nickel plated, but it looks like it was not originally plated, or was replated at some point, so the etched designs are somewhat faint. We can also see traces of past staining and oxidation that were cleaned away. The brass hilt features a 4 branch basket guard, and the pommel is a lovely lion's head. This hilt is very similar to the model 1871, an features a protruding thumb rest on the back of the grip going into the cross guard, which would allow a more stable grip. The grip itself is painted wood, and has a lovely aged patina.

The scabbard is nickel plated steel, and is in very good condition, still retaining lots of the original plating. It does have a slight bend to it, which is hard to visualize due to how curved it is. There are two small hanger rings on the scabbard, and it fits the blade well, though it does take some effort to sheathe it.

Overall condition is very good and quite attractive. A very nice example of a hard to find sword, the first that we have ever had!

Dimensions:
Blade length: 29 3/4”
Overall length: 36 3/8”
Scabbard length: 31 1/4”
Handguard: 4 1/2”L x 5 1/2”W

The Bersaglieri, singular Bersagliere, (Italian pronunciation: [bersaʎˈʎɛːri], "sharpshooter") are a troop of marksmen in the Italian Army's infantry corps. They were originally created by General Alessandro Ferrero La Marmora on 18 June 1836 to serve in the Royal Sardinian Army, which later became the Royal Italian Army. They can be recognized by their distinctive wide-brimmed hats decorated with black western capercaillie feathers, which is worn with the dress uniform. The feathers are also applied to their combat helmets.

The Bersaglieri Corps were a high-mobility light infantry at their inception in 1836, with their specific situation evolving with changes in warfare. In the nineteenth century, Bersaglieri acted as skirmishers or shock troops, moving from place to place by running. An elaborate system of bugle calls allowed their units to be deployed and commanded quickly, singly or in combination. The tradition of running continues today in parades and during barracks duty. In World War I, some Bersaglieri served as bicycle troops, better to execute their mission of maneuver warfare. During the Cold War, the Bersaglieri were exclusively employed as mechanized infantry.

Bersaglieri are well-known for their extraordinary performances in parades and military tattoos, always running instead of marching, with hundreds of black capercaillie feathers flowing from their wide-brimmed black hats. These feathers are also worn on Bersaglieri combat helmets. They once served a military purpose, acting as camouflage and as a sunshade for the marksman's shooting eye. Today, they are a badge of honour, attracting new recruits and fostering esprit among their wearers.