Grosser Lion Head Saber with von Bülow family coat of arms. Help with possible Ids

cptbob

cptbob

Well-known member
This is a very high-end lion head saber for an Uhlan officer. It was made by WKC and sold by the vendor F Noe and Schulze in Coblenz. The detail work in the handle is impressive. The langet are big and very well done. On one side is the crossed sabers and lances associated with the Uhlans and on the other side is a very high-quality engraving of the von Bülow coat of arms. On the knuckle-bow is the royal cypher of Kaiser Wilhelm I. The blade is big and has a nice Damascus pattern in it.

I've been able to surf the web and locate several members of the von Bülow family who spent time in the Uhlans. I'm sure there were more and would love to hear about them if someone has the sources. The ones I found have all spent time in the Guard Uhlan Regiments.

I think that the Kaiser Wilhelm I cypher (and possibly the seller) might be clues as to the owner of the sword.

Here are the ones I've found...
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_von_Bülow_(General,_1837) Was a Flugeladjutant for Kaiser Wilhelm I. Commanded VIII Army Corps in Coblenz.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_von_Bülow_(General,_1850) Flugeladjutant for all 3 Kaisers. Commanded 13th Uhlan Regiment
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl-Ulrich_von_Bülow Flugeladjutant for Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Of the 3 I would lean towards the first Adolf in the list. He had the connection to KWI and also was stationed in Coblenz. Perhaps he bought it (or it was gifted to him) to celebrate his promotion to General der Kavallerie. It is certainly a sword that would be right in place on the hip of a high-ranking cavalry General. It's only a guess but it is plausible.

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A magnificent sword. I'm very happy for you.

Here in Metz, the best known is General Adalbert Von Bredow. He was a General, commanding the famous charge of the ‘Bredow’ Brigade on 6 August 1870. This charge was a dramatic failure, and was called by the Prussians ‘Totenritt’.
Adalbert Von Bredow was a cavalry general. He commanded cuirassiers, Ulans, dragoons and hussars at Rezonville. The panoply of arms on the coat of arms on the hilt of this sabre is typical of this cavalry command: 1811 Blücher sabre, 1852 Cavalry sabre and Ulan spear.
Adalbert von Bredow was a cavalry colonel under King William I of Prussia and Brigadier General during the 1870 war. He distinguished himself at Sadowa in 66, and at Mars-La-Tour in 70.
Friedrich Wilhelm Adalbert Von Bredow was General of Divison under Kaiser Wilhelm I
Another element:
The monogram of Wilhelm I : 1861-1888 corresponds precisely to the period when Adalbert Von Bredow was Colonel (1863-1866) then General (1866-1873) then retired (1874-1890). The beauty of this ceremonial sabre could well correspond to the end of his career as a General, i.e. during his period of occupation in France, at the end of his career.
And if we take only the W1 Rex period, the period ends in 1871, but the recipient may well have received it later, still with this monogram.

fr.wikipedia.org

Adalbert von Bredow — Wikipédia

fr.wikipedia.org fr.wikipedia.org
 
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cptbob said:
The WRI on the knucklebow could also indicate that the owner was a member of the 7th Hussar Regiment. Here is one, Bernhard von Bülow, served in the 7th Hussar in the Franco-Prussian war before entering politics.
de.wikipedia.org

Bernhard von Bülow – Wikipedia

de.wikipedia.org de.wikipedia.org

I wonder if there are more von Bülows that served in this Regiment.

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Great photo !
Would be interesting to find out ( Mike Kelso's book ) when H R 7 got their cyphers.
This photo must be before the cyphers ?H R 7 O S .jpg

Steve
 
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What an exquisite sword! Top drawer quality,

Being able to attribute it to its own original owner would make it as good as it gets.
 
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