EL6224 - A scarce and sought-after Polish WZ. 34 cavalry sabre, made in 1939. Numbered D543 to both the spine of the blade and it seems to the drag of the scabbard (as you can see from the photos, the end of the scabbard has old pitting from rust, obscuring the numbers, but the 5 and 4 are clearly visible and I believe that the D and 3 are just about visible as well). The sword fits the scabbard as it should and I believe that they are original to each other.
The sword is overall in good condition, with a bright blade which is firm in the hilt, having tidy and effective service sharpening (done at the factory, before these were put through rigorous tests, including cutting steel rods!). There is some very light pitting near the tip, but this is shallow. The wooden grip is tight on the tang, with the bolts tightly securing them. There is a little age and wear to the wood, as you would expect, and a scuff mark on one side (see photos). But overall good condition. The copper alloy guard and pommel have a pleasing old patina which I have left uncleaned and untouched. The sword is as found - as it came to me. I have simply oiled the blade.
As mentioned, the drag (end) of the scabbard has some deeper pitting from rust at that end, so I stablised and cleaned that a little to reveal the serial number. The scabbard is complete and in solid condition, with some lighter (more shallow) pitting over most of the surface - bright steel having been preserved under the langets of the guard and at the throat. The ricasso of the blade carries all the markings you would expect, including the Polish military acceptance stamps and the name of the Kielce-based maker Huta Ludwików.
Given the date, it was almost certainly carried during the heroic fighting against the invading Germans in Poland during 1939. It is a lovely sword, feeling very formidable in the hand, and is a truly evocative piece of history. These no longer come up for sale very often and are rare to get hold of now.
