Preußen (Prussian) Issued M73 Artillery Sword. Issued sabre is very heavy construction. The spine of the blade is flat, with a long deep fuller on the polished steel blade. The scabbard on this example shows almost no wear to the black manganese parkerized finish. Preußen (Prussian) issued M73 sabre have a wooden grip that bulges out in the center. The grip is rivited on the sides to large tangs at the centre which protrude off of the back-strap (the steel back of the grip). The hand guard (protecting the knuckles and hand) has a distinctive "P" curve from the top of the pommel to the end were it joins onto the crossguard which ends in a round curl, designed for catching the blades of opponents. The suspention ring on the Preußen M73 scabbard is fixed to the scabbard and does not move.