Thank you for the additional information Manolo. I think what Glen is saying is very well placed, these may indeed have been European acceptance marks in the cartouche, and the various letters and numerics likely representing the usual initials and inventory.It seems issuance stamps are of course found separate from these type stamps. It is highly worn, so hard to say.
Interesting about the Confederate general's sabre. I should have been more precise concerning comments on Civil War swords. The officers in the Confederate cavalry were indeed colorful , often flamboyant and I have often heard them described as 'the last cavaliers'. I believe they did effectively use sabres, however most of the literature on Civil War events does not reflect much on the use of swords.
I do know that Custer had a sword with a hilt similar to the M1840, but mounted with a huge, straight Spanish broadsword blade, said to have been taken from a Confederate officer in combat during the Civil War. I actually found this sword in the museum at the Little Big Horn, after we had been trying to find it, and believing it was in the Smithsonian. There are discussions on this sword here in the archives, reflecting the research done.
Another sword in similar case was shown here by Matt Branch, it was a Confederate officers sword, with again Spanish broadsword blade marked PDL, (P.D.Luneschloss, Solingen) and inscribed Mexican eagle. This one taken in combat in Tennessee from a Confederate officer.
It seems that these swords carried blades from the swords of Mexican officers taken by U.S. officers who later became officers in the Confederate cavalry. I have seen references with Confederate advirtisements in period newspapers requesting swords or edged weapons to be given for the cause.
It is well known that the Isaac& Co. pattern 1853 British cavalry sabres were sent to the Confederacy.
While the medical records, as noted, show few sword cuts, it does not presume those reports to be comprehensive enough to reflect injuries inflicted or for that matter, deaths, from the clear minority of Confederate officers, or from the sabres used by the outstanding Confederate cavalry units, especially those from Virginia (see Virginia Manufactory thread).
Glen is absolutely right, sabres with these style hilts, again based on the French models with brass hilts and so called Phrygian cap pommels, were used by a number of European countries (yes, including Denmark
)
While the preponderance of demand in the U.S. during the Civil War brought a huge volume of swords here, one cannot discount the fact that other countries had demand as well, in varying degree. Solingen, the marketing machine for edged weapons, was as always 'working overtime' !
Glen, thank you for the kind note, and for showing the M1840 and French mle 1854........I've never seen them side by side...what contrast!!
Interesting.......the mle 1854 has a straight blade......I think these were still considered sabres? Another notch in the terminology syndrome.
All best regards,
Jim