M1833 Artillery saber
The quality of the earlier Kongsberg swords was – poor! The only eight year old previous model were already in a sorry condition. In 1828 Kongsberg got new machinery enabling them to make better swords and a new model was decided set in production as cavalry (with additional rails) and artillery versions. Except for the rails, the two models were identical.
The blade was marked C XIV J – for the Swedish king Karl Johan (K in Norwegian spelling, C in Swedish. This sword was made in Norway for Norwegians!) and the crowned K on the hand guard. Well, his real name was Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, Napoleon’s ex-general at war against Sweden and England, allied with Denmark/Norway. He must really have been a stand-up and trustworthy guy. And – as far as I know, he never even visited Norway.
