Napoleonic saber, but from where?

Oliver Pinchot · 2nd April 2020, 07:36 PM

Napoleonic, looks like a private purchase officer's saber for hussars?
Can anyone identify it?

Will M · 3rd April 2020, 01:48 AM

This was recently at auction, I was thinking Belgian but could be something else, the lion head pommel is about the only clue and the odd scabbard drag.

ulfberth · 3rd April 2020, 10:17 AM

Hi Oliver, most officers sabre's like this were private purchased , but this type of flat lion head on the pommel leans more to the German or Dutch style. ( Belgium and Holland the Dutch were one country at the time )
However this does not mean it can't be French , it could just as well be from the Alsac region, what we can say for sure it that its between 1790 and 1810 it could be an officers hussars sabre or a chasseur a cheval.
A detailed picture of the engraving on the blade could shed some more light on it, it looks a bit unusual but that might just be because its lacking detail.
There also seems to be damage to the tip of the scabbard, its a bit deformed.
kind regards
Ulfberth

Oliver Pinchot · 25th April 2020, 07:03 PM

Thanks for the observations. Clearly, it is Napoleonic and a private purchase piece. The chape is not deformed, that's how it's made. Germanic or Dutch makes sense, Alsace is interesting. Any thoughts on the unusual beaded guard and rather French langets?
Here are closeups of the hilt (interesting piercing in the guard) and the etched panels on either side of the blade. At about the midpoint, there is a blank section, ostensibly for the owner's name. The etching is quite good, elaborate and well-detailed but generic. So far as I can see, there are no distinctive characteristics in it which would help determine its origin.

Jimbob, you out there?!

ulfberth · 25th April 2020, 08:19 PM

Hello again ,
this type of guard is also known by the French as garde perlé ( guard with pearls ) the form and style of the guard is French or French inspired and is found during the Directoire period when Napoleon was Director of France.
The pierced crossguard is as sometimes found on luxury saber's, the engraving on the blade however is not typical for the period it looks in style a bit more like luxury saber's around the 1830's, changing blades when saber's were worn more generations was not uncommon. That being said it does not mean that the blade can't be late 18th C , its the decoration that is not like most blades of this period.

Oliver Pinchot · 25th April 2020, 08:45 PM

Thanks, Ulfberth.
In fact the blade is etched rather than being engraved. It may be later, perhaps done during the working life of the sword. However, it does shows wear so perhaps it is original to it. Also, the blade has been sharpened just for the last few inches, rather than its entire length.

2nd April 2020, 07:36 PM	#1
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 457	Napoleonic saber, but from where? Napoleonic, looks like a private purchase officer's saber for hussars? Can anyone identify it? Attached Images

25th April 2020, 07:03 PM	#4
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 457	Thanks for the observations. Clearly, it is Napoleonic and a private purchase piece. The chape is not deformed, that's how it's made. Germanic or Dutch makes sense, Alsace is interesting. Any thoughts on the unusual beaded guard and rather French langets? Here are closeups of the hilt (interesting piercing in the guard) and the etched panels on either side of the blade. At about the midpoint, there is a blank section, ostensibly for the owner's name. The etching is quite good, elaborate and well-detailed but generic. So far as I can see, there are no distinctive characteristics in it which would help determine its origin. Jimbob, you out there?! Attached Images Last edited by Oliver Pinchot; 25th April 2020 at 08:09 PM.

3rd April 2020, 01:48 AM	#2
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 391	This was recently at auction, I was thinking Belgian but could be something else, the lion head pommel is about the only clue and the odd scabbard drag.

3rd April 2020, 10:17 AM	#3
ulfberth Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 400	Hi Oliver, most officers sabre's like this were private purchased , but this type of flat lion head on the pommel leans more to the German or Dutch style. ( Belgium and Holland the Dutch were one country at the time ) However this does not mean it can't be French , it could just as well be from the Alsac region, what we can say for sure it that its between 1790 and 1810 it could be an officers hussars sabre or a chasseur a cheval. A detailed picture of the engraving on the blade could shed some more light on it, it looks a bit unusual but that might just be because its lacking detail. There also seems to be damage to the tip of the scabbard, its a bit deformed. kind regards Ulfberth

25th April 2020, 08:19 PM	#5
ulfberth Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 400	Hello again , this type of guard is also known by the French as garde perlé ( guard with pearls ) the form and style of the guard is French or French inspired and is found during the Directoire period when Napoleon was Director of France. The pierced crossguard is as sometimes found on luxury saber's, the engraving on the blade however is not typical for the period it looks in style a bit more like luxury saber's around the 1830's, changing blades when saber's were worn more generations was not uncommon. That being said it does not mean that the blade can't be late 18th C , its the decoration that is not like most blades of this period.

25th April 2020, 08:45 PM	#6
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 457	Thanks, Ulfberth. In fact the blade is etched rather than being engraved. It may be later, perhaps done during the working life of the sword. However, it does shows wear so perhaps it is original to it. Also, the blade has been sharpened just for the last few inches, rather than its entire length.