Need help with sword

[tokens70]

Hello, I would very much like to find out about this sword i am trying to sell for a friend. It appears to be a type of fraternal organization ceremonial sword with Magd. Train Ba?? No=4 engraved on the blade. My guess is it is 50 or less years old

 

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[duggap]

I'm not a sword expert, but I have one like yours. The engraving on mine is for the US Army. But the style is the same and they date to WWI. Someone will come along and give some better info.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Here found this to give you an ideal what you might have. This one is a WWI Prussian / German saber marked to another Train Battalion

Military Antiques - WW1 German / Preußischer Mod.1852 Kavalleriesäbel – Unit Marked : ANZACBLADE, Militaria For Sale For You

Mike

 

[tokens70]

Thanks guys for your help & ffuries for the link

 

[Retired Sarge]

So we have a WWI Prussian / German M1852 Presentation Sword, for the Magd. Train Battalion No 4. Magd is still the unknown. Somehow when trying to edit a typo on my first post I deleted the whole post....Must have fat fingered the keyboard.

Could be Magdeburg, Magdalen, or?

Mike

 

[tokens70]

I would like to think so, but it does not have any makers marks on it at all I do appreciate your interest in helping with this

 

[Retired Sarge]

Have you checked all over the sword, along the ricasso, pommel, guard, quillon, and the top of the blade?

Mike

 

[tokens70]

Yes, i have checked everywhere possible on this thing.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Did you look along the spine of the blade some were marked there!

 

[tokens70]

Yes, i looked everywhere.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Well even if it's unmarked, it's still a great sword, which is a WWI Prussian / German M1852 Presentation Sword, for the Magd. Train Battalion No 4. The only mystery is what the abbreviation Magd stands for.

 

[ABruce]

Magd. is most likely an abbreviation of Magdeburg, a large city in Saxony, Germany. The word Train does not translate as anything to do with railroads but probably a Training battalion.

 

[tokens70]

Thank you ABruce & Sorry for the late reply. I appreciate anyone taking time to help

 

[Bum Luck]

Most likely Magdeburg, I agree.

Not much (as in nothing) left of unit records, the national theatre and the military archives destroyed in an air raid on Berlin on the night of 16/17 December 1943 by the RAF.

 

[tokens70]

Thanks Bum Luck

 

[Montauk]

A theory. The sword is correctly identified as German. The inscription though is not convincingly German,
particularly through the use of the word "Train". The word battalion is sometimes used in German as battailon.
The abbreviation Magd. though is what has readers of this post most puzzled.

Member ffuries intuitively suggested the name Magdalen. I posit that Magd. may indeed be an abbreviation for
Magdalen. As in Magdalen College of Oxford University, UK.

At Oxford during WWI there was the Oxford University Officers’ Training Corps (OUOTC) which had the specific
designation of No. 4 Officer Cadet Battalion.

Quoting from the monograph on the OUOTC from The Oxford University Archives found in this link.
http://www.oua.ox.ac.uk/holdings/Officers Training Corps OT.pdf

"The strength of each cadet battalion was about 750 men and they were quartered by companies in Keble, Wadham,
Hertford, New, MAGDALEN, Trinity, Balliol, St John’s and Worcester Colleges. For example, C Company of No. 4
Officer Cadet Battalion was quartered at Keble College......"

The inscription on the sword "Magd. Train Batl No.4" may then be an abbreviation for "Magdalen Training Battalion Number 4".

Why is there an an English inscription on a German sword? During wartime, a presentation of a captured &
inscribed enemy souvenir from the front doesn't seem outside the realm of plausibility. Something that
enthusiastic young officers in training might do.

So, is this then a German sword possibly bearing an English inscription from WWI.

OUOTC - Soldiers of Oxfordshire
L55/176 - Oxford University Officer Training Corps OTC Cap Badge - £20.00 : British Military Badges | Cap Badges | Insignia | Shoulder Titles | Sweetheart Brooches

 

[tokens70]

Sure would be nice to know for sure wouldnt it I sincerely would like to thank you guys for your assistance in this. I can honestly say, ive never really been very patient with researching

 

[MIC]

"Well even if it's unmarked, it's still a great sword, which is a WWI Prussian / German M1852 Presentation Sword, for the Magd. Train Battalion No 4. The only mystery is what the abbreviation Magd stands for. "

Completely correct. "Train" is the military term of supply in German and has nothing to do with the English word Train.
See Train (military) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Here is the unit: Magdeburgisches Train-Bataillon Nr. 4

So it is a "Preuß. Kavallerie-Säbel M 1852" for the Magdeburgisches Train Batallion Nr. 4. If there are no markings on the spine of the blade, like 'W 08' or 'FW 60' then it is most likely a privately purchased piece.
As a wild guess I would date it around 1900.

Hope this solves your quest. Is it still for sale?

Best regards,
Michel

 

[tokens70]

Thanks MIC Yes it is still for sale