Swiss Model 1878 Infantry Short Sword by Weyersberg

This is a handsome short sword, patterned after the Model 1878 Faschinenmesser, but was never made with the sawtooth back edge. The sword measures 25 3/8" overall, with a 19 5/8" straight, single-edged blade having a wide single fuller on the reverse only. The ricasso is marked "GEBR. WEYERSBERG / SOLINGEN" on the reverse, while the obverse is blank. The steel has an overall pewter gray patina with dark scabbard marks on both sides of the blade. The hilt has a brass crossguard with short, reversed quillons and disk finials, checkered walnut grips fastened by five rivets per side, and a domed brass pommel. The brass has an overall yellow-ochre patina with numerous minor handling marks and small surface blemishes throughout, while the wood is in fine shape with some minor handling marks and blemishes throughout. The scabbard is in very good shape, although the back seam has split along most of its length, and the leather has numerous minor scuffs. The brass throat and chape have a dull ochre patina with some brighter metal on the buckle, and the frog has some even surface crazing and flaking to the leather. This is a fine example of a scarce Swiss variant short sword.