Germany - 19th century - Hartschier degen - Sword

A very nicely blued Bavarian Hartschier epee with gilded engravings, with officer's portepee. The sword has a double-edged blade. The handle has a very nice brass wire winding. See pictures! No sheath present. No markings present from creators or otherwise. Because these types of weapons were only carried by special forces, there are not many of them. Hartschier (also Hatschier, comes from the Italian Arciere = archer) is the name of a military class of troops. The Hartschiere were in various monarchs and electoral principalities, including Kurköln, Bavaria and Austrian bodyguard regiments, later exclusively as ceremonial house troops without any actual military task. With the fall of the principalities and monarchies no later than 1918, these court guards were also abolished. Access to this guard was only possible for soldiers with impeccable character and behaviour. The commander of the Hartschier troop was titled Generalkapitän (see also Captain-General) He was personally appointed by the Bavarian king.