La Sciabola

Before the publication of La Sciabola almost nothing had been written in English regarding the Italian sword models of the 1800s, their makers and their markings. For good reason, too: it was a challenging and frustrating subject, requiring years of research and many thousands of hours dedicated to translating texts, communicating with museums and painstakingly corroborating source information. As a result, much of the author’s findings are being presented for the first time, making this a required resource for museums, dealers, collectors and auction houses alike.

The book includes entries on all of the most important swords of the period 1815 to 1915, their historical contexts, accounts of their usage in combat, 215 high resolution images, over 100 brand-new schematic drawings and 70,000 words over 175 pages.

The decision to publish La Sciabola as an online archive means the contents are searchable, updates are published immediately without having to rely on extra print-runs, images can be viewed and inspected in detail, and, with no retailer’s cut, the book’s price is around half of what would be expected. Buyers that would like to have a physical copy are welcome to print one for personal use.

For those who wish to read La Sciabola without buying it, the Royal Armouries has purchased and printed a copy for its library.

£34.99
One time

The book’s contents:

Preface

The Post-Napoleonic Swords

  • The 1774 Model Sword for Infantry Officers, the ‘Sciabola d’Epoca’

  • The 1814 Model Sabre for Light Cavalry Troopers and Lancers

  • The 1814 Model Sword for Heavy Cavalry Troopers

  • The 1819 Model Sabre for Infantry Officers

  • The 1819 Model Sabre for Artillery Officers

  • The 1819 Model Sabre for Engineer Corps Officers

  • The 1819 Model Sabre for Fort Officers

  • The 1824 Model Sword for Line Cavalry Troopers and Mounted Carabinieri Troopers

  • The 1829 Model Sword for Heavy Cavalry Troopers

  • The 1829 Model Sabre for Light Cavalry Troopers

The Era of Carlo Alberto

  • The 1833 Model Sword for Infantry Officers, the ‘Albertina’

  • The 1833 Model Sword for Administrative Service Officers

  • The 1833 Model Sword for Medical Officers

  • The 1833 Model Sabre for Artillery and Train Officers

  • The 1833 Model Sabre for Mounted Artillery Officers

  • The 1833 Model Sabre for Mounted Artillery Troopers

  • The 1833 Model Mounted Artillery Non-Commissioned Officers’ Sabre

  • The 1833 Model Sabre for Infantry Quartermasters and Bandsmen

  • The 1833 Model Sabre for Guard’Armi Personnel

  • The 1833 Model Heavy Cavalry Officers’ Sabre

  • The 1833 Model Cavalry Officers’ Sabre

  • The 1834 Model Heavy Cavalry Troopers’ Sword

  • The 1834 Model Sabre for Cavalry Troopers and the Mounted Carabinieri

  • The 1843 Model Sabre for the General Staff Officers

The Era of Vittorio Emanuele II

  • The First War of Italian Independence

  • The Siege of Rome

  • The Reforms of Alfonso La Marmora and Camillo Benso

  • The 1850 Model Sabre for Bersaglieri Officers

  • The 1855 Model Sabre for Infantry Officers

  • War in the Crimea

  • The Second War of Italian Independence

  • The 1860 Model Sabre for Cavalry Troopers

  • The 1860 Model Sabre for Non-Commissioned Cavalry Officers

  • The 1860 Model Hungarian Legion Sabre

  • The Expedition of the Thousand

The Kingdom of Italy

  • The 1864 Model Sabre for Cavalry Officers

  • The 1864 Model Sabre for Officers of the Regiment of Guides

  • The 1864 Model Sabre for Officers of the Piacenza Hussars

  • The Third War of Italian Independence

  • The 1871 Model Sabre for Cavalry Troopers

  • The 1871-29 Model Sabre for Cavalry Troopers

  • The 1873 Model Sabre for Cavalry Officers

The Era of Umberto I

  • The Adoption of Parise

  • The Death of Garibaldi

  • The 1887 Model Sabre for Colonial Infantry Officers

  • The 1888 Model Sabre for Infantry Officers

  • The 1888 Model Sabre for Artillery Troopers

  • The 1900 Model Sword for Cavalry Troopers

  • The 1900-09 Model Sword for Cavalry Troopers

Sidearms

The Swords of Giuseppe Garibaldi

Makers and Markings

Key Points in Italian History

Glossary

Gallery

Acknowledgements

Sources and Recommended Reading List

£34.99
One time

Praise for La Sciabola:

“It is a superb resource - well researched and engagingly written.”

“An outstanding job!”

“As someone who knows the struggles of trying to identify Italian swords without a decent English-language reference, this resource has been of immense utility. Now do one for French swords!”

“It is a fine book that has proved very useful.”

“10/10 would recommend! Worth every penny.”

“La Sciabola is an invaluable English language resource on Italian swords. Written in an easy to understand way with a wealth of information I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone interested in swords generally and Italian swords specifically both collectors and history enthusiasts.”