Unidentified Cavalry Saber of French Mfg...

laEspadaAncha · 15th March 2010, 05:04 AM

A couple more pictures...

laEspadaAncha · 15th March 2010, 06:59 AM

Upon further review, it does seem to share similarities with a published reference I have to a French cavalry officer's sword dated c. 1870. It, too, has a 4-bar decorated brass hilt, horn grip, and a personalized monogram on the backstrap near the pommel...

However, it differs in the treatment of the quillon (lacking on my example), and I still have the question re: the Kligenthal manufacture - were French cav. officers allowed the option of private purchase?

Hotspur · 16th March 2010, 05:27 PM

I would think absolutely yes, to private purchases and more likely the norm for officers. There are also notes out there for the rather prolific private sales of swords from the Klingenthal works.

What struck me the most about later than earlier was the flatness of the guard stock, as opposed to the rounder castings. Add also the timeline for going to single ring scabbards, many refitted from two to one in the 1880s (but we should never assume dating from the attached scabbards without due considerations).

Cheers

GC

15th March 2010, 05:04 AM	#1
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	A couple more pictures...

15th March 2010, 06:59 AM	#2
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Upon further review, it does seem to share similarities with a published reference I have to a French cavalry officer's sword dated c. 1870. It, too, has a 4-bar decorated brass hilt, horn grip, and a personalized monogram on the backstrap near the pommel... However, it differs in the treatment of the quillon (lacking on my example), and I still have the question re: the Kligenthal manufacture - were French cav. officers allowed the option of private purchase?

16th March 2010, 05:27 PM	#3
Hotspur Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Nipmuc USA Posts: 534	I would think absolutely yes, to private purchases and more likely the norm for officers. There are also notes out there for the rather prolific private sales of swords from the Klingenthal works. What struck me the most about later than earlier was the flatness of the guard stock, as opposed to the rounder castings. Add also the timeline for going to single ring scabbards, many refitted from two to one in the 1880s (but we should never assume dating from the attached scabbards without due considerations). Cheers GC