Austrian Imperial Guard broadsword

length: 37"
blade: 29 1/2"
blade width: 1 1/2"
grip: 6 1/2"
guard: 7 1/2" x 2 3/4"
weight: 3 lbs 7 oz

Full-dress broadsword of the Austrian Imperial Guard, circa 1850. Identification comes from photographs and translation by a friend from the book "Chladne Zbrane" by Jan Sach ([Prague], Aventinum, c1999), which roughly is a book on "Coolest swords in Czech museum collections". Heavy unsharpened blade is 1/8" thick at the base and 1/16" at the tip. Even unsharpened it would make one heck of an Emporer's defensive weapon (heavy enough to break bones, no one was wearing armor in those days). The blade is pristine - not a nick or mark on it. Solid cast brass hand guard features the Imperial double-headed eagle crest. An excellent and rare addition to any collection.