Up for auction is a French Light Cavalry Officer Sabre from the Napoleonic period.
This sabre would have been owned and worn by a junior officer of hussars or chasseurs a cheval. It is a 3-bar guard ANXI, the standard model, with a variation in the scabbard.
The blade is in very good condition. It has some very light staining only, mostly towards the tip. The bluing is mostly worn off from polishing. The standard engravings (of flowers and stands of arms, 5 on each side) are still strong and deep and retain some of the gold filling. The blade is from Solingen, having a flower (denoting Solingen manufacture) on the spine. There is a bit of a carps' tongue tip but it has been ground down with use. The grip is of leather covered wood with brass wire over top. The leather is old, but in excellent condition. I believe it to be the original leather, but can't be certain. The back-piece, bars, quillon and oreillons are of brass. The hilt is tight to the blade. The initials "CV" are stamped on the outer oreillon (likely the owner of the sword). This sabre has never been dismounted, in my opinion.
The blade is a slim, elegant 32" long. Overall length is 38.5"
The scabbard is all steel except for brass hangers and rings. The scabbard is in excellent condition, with minor staining and only a couple of minor dings from use. The hangars are very very unusual, in that they are reliefs of lions on both sides
It is a truly beautiful piece, light and well-balanced. I date it to the mid Empire period (c 1810).
You will not be disappointed. Check my feedback. I am not a dealer, just an avid collector of Napoleonic weapons. This is the last period that edged weapons and cavalry made an impact on the results of battles!
I am very reluctantly selling this wonderful sabre as I have bought another sabre, and I have reached the maximum (according to my wife).
This sword is 100% original, and has been only lightly cleaned.
I absolutely guarantee authenticity from the Napoleonic period, created plus or minus 5 years from 1810.. There is a money-back guarantee (not including postage).
*Shipping outside North America is expensive, please email for a quote*
*This sabre is also being offered directly to collectors in my circle*
| Hi Jeff, I'm not sure of your knowledge of the European sabres of this period. It is easily broken into 2 groups: Officers and troopers. French officer sabre blades were usually made by one of the several manufactories in Solingen, the acknowledged masters of European sword making in that period. Even the British imported blades from Solingen. Then they were shipped to one of the many small (often 'mom and pop') industries in France (there were about 300 of them in France during the Empire period), who would finish the hilts and guards and sell the completed package. The Solingen blades would have an engraving at the very top of the spine showing who made it, typically a stylized "S". There would be no other marks. Trooper blades, in contrast, were made at the two large factories in Klingenthal and Versailles, both overseen by government inspectors, and they would typically have a date scrolled on the spine of the blade (e.g. Manufacture Imperial du Klingenthal, August 1810) and various inspector stamps. Hope this helps. Tom - totus_porcus |
| Dear totus_porcus, Hello, Are there any marks on the hilt or blade? Is there any script on the spine of the blade? If so, could you please send me some photos? Thanks, Jeff |