Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Jun 15, 2015 15:53:14 GMT
How come the left one has two rings, a non standard knuckle bow and a non standard scabbard throad?
And the third one from the left has this enormous basket. Officers creep too?
The hole in the knuckle bow near the pommel of the copper hilted one I tought was typical for the Colonial Army version?
That one also sports the non standard blade.
Do you finaly get it why I sometimes wish the French should have been removed to Canada in 1814?
Good show by the way. Did not realise some of the Infantry swords could be that nice.
Cheers.
Edit: The copper hilted one seems to have a deviant M1896 blade, with a small ricasso.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2015 19:36:40 GMT
I am curious as to thought about this example. Second empire, the cutler Georges Léon. I had picked this up from Shiloh Relics some years ago, as the French 1882 had always appealed to me. Jean Binck of SFI had posted a bit in an 1882 thread several years ago. Jean is long gone from the boards but his site remains users.skynet.be/euro-swords/ I had read his thoughts over the years back to the first existence of SFI. It is the last paragraph of that post that may relate to my sword in particular. The cannelured blade is 86.36cm. With so many other straight swords here, it will probably be just the one of this blade type for me. I could scout out a scabbard for it but I don't know what would have carried it. The gold monogram/arms on the back strap seem to have been scrubbed out, leaving a bit of a mystery. |
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Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Jun 15, 2015 20:57:42 GMT
Found a catalogue page. 1845 /1882 variations for Adjudants.  Guess you have to build the annex after all. Another thing is that they still did mercury gilding at that time ( 250 Francs ). Cheers. |
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Post by Jordan Williams on Oct 5, 2016 6:56:05 GMT
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I thought it'd be better than starting a new one for a simple question. And who doesn't like to read Dave's old topics once in a while?  Back to the question though, what does the "AR" or "RA" (looks like an R over an A) on the back strap near the bottom of the hilt (near where the tang is) mean? Here's a picture to show what I mean.  I might be picking one of these up, I'd like to know more about them though. |
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Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Oct 5, 2016 7:12:39 GMT
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Post by Jordan Williams on Oct 5, 2016 7:27:01 GMT
I'll never not be impressed with how amazing the swords you restore end up looking Ulahn. Seriously a very nice sword. |
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Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Oct 5, 2016 7:34:42 GMT
Thank you very much for the compliment.
I hope Mr. Kelly checks his M1855 hilted one out. Just curious.
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Post by Jordan Williams on Oct 6, 2016 19:58:06 GMT
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Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Oct 6, 2016 20:38:15 GMT
The Ebay one is not very good is it. The grip is broken, the hilt is rusty and that blade.....
It is genuine and Chatellerault marked but not standard., No, there are better around. These sabres are not very expensive, so I would try to get the best. Never this one.
The one with the initials looks good.
Cheers.
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Post by Jordan Williams on Oct 8, 2016 2:45:50 GMT
I almost bought a Superior Officers Sword earlier this year, unfortunately the seller would only take check or cash by mail. So that went away and I picked up an Austrian 1861. Now I've gone back to the French side, and picked up an 1882. (The one with the initials above)
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Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Oct 8, 2016 4:30:09 GMT
,,My 1855 Officer Superieur ,three fullered blade is a Chattelrault (1857). These are for field grade officers (Major, Lt Colonel and Colonel )''
Both have the Sabre d'Officier General hilts, just like mine: sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/39871/french-m1845-infantry-dofficier-result
Both Adjudants and field grade Officers had the same hilts, with one branch on the guard and a second little branch connecting with THAT FIRST BRANCH. The difference sits in the blades. See l'Hoste page 279, fig.509a.
While the Sabre d'Officier General has the standard three fullered Officers blade, the hilt is much bigger, with two branches on the guard going to the KNUCKLE BOW. Just like your examples. See l'Hoste page 280, fig 511. As these were made for high ranking Officers, above field grade, they are much more desirable and quite rare.
Cheers.
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Uhlan
Member
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Post by Uhlan on Oct 8, 2016 14:34:50 GMT
,,More than happy to have 2 G.O. swords if that is the case.''
Indeed. It is so. The illustration in l'Hoste could be better also.
It took me a while to figure the three different types out too.
Like a lot of people I thought there was just the one hilt type and two blade types.
If you have the old 1845 Adjudant or Officers and compare the hilt with the M1845 SOG you will see how small the M1845 A/O hilts are.
Anyway, once again you show us you are a lucky B.
Cheers.
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Post by bluetrain on Oct 9, 2016 15:12:34 GMT
I think it is interesting the way the French used script in marking some or most of their swords, a habit that even extended to small arms and artillery.
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Back to the question though, what does the "AR" or "RA" (looks like an R over an A) on the back strap near the bottom of the hilt (near where the tang is) mean? Here's a picture to show what I mean. 
