Help Identifying a French Sword

Superbe sword!

It's a light cavalry officer sword model of Year XI; made in Germany by P. Knetch with a damascus pattern blade = private purchase sword for a rather wealthy officer.
Most likely end of Empire or 2nd Restauration (c.1820-1840s). The scabbard form and blade point might also give more clues to identify further its timeline.

I forgot to look at Bezdek while at the desk this morning but as mentioned before, there are two generations of Peter Knecht, with the jr company more of a consortium of goods. One will find the later Peter Knecht swords in quite a variety, while the senior, earlier P.Knecht stuff more unique and elaborate. Also, that the inscription is in French, which might lend to it having been commissioned/ordered/cataloged during the French occupation of Solingen.  I suppose it could have as easily been marketed and inscribed in the France.


I am curious both of the scabbard but more so of the blade spine and whether there is any text etched there.

Folded blades were not just a rebirth in the 19th century and found on blades in the 18th century. The heavy etching on this one could more easily explained as later but I am finding more and more examples of deep etching early in the 19th century. Indeed, just like the folded blades, an art never really lost but just rarely applied to large military pieces.

It really does seem to be carved/graved as well as etched.  My smallsword shard from the 18th century shows some of this type of metal layering of steels.

 

I dunno but the Pallas Athena homage seems earlier to me too but it could well be an earlier blade fitted later in life, or indeed be entirely later. I was looking to see if it might read something on the spine but the blade quality is already written on one side. The clipped point, well, again debatable as to time but certainly another earlier trait.

The scabbard sturdier than I expected.

I'm being lazy on going to the shelf but here is Dellar on the Knecht dates.




FWIW

Regarding cleaning and conservation or restoration; I can only express a concern that any gilding left can disappear in a second when polishing or using solvents.

Doesn't look bad at all, in terms of dirtiness. Just use a light cover of oil to keep rust away from the blade and use appropriate substance on the hilt.

Good Day,

Thanks again for the advice. A very "light" oiling it is then. 

in regards to the "covering", the scabbard is coated with some dark substance which has, I guess over time, rubbed off is some parts. I have attached some close up pics which may help. 

Again, and I cannot say this enough..thanks for the assistance and the advice.

Regards

Joe

Will a magnet stick to the scabbard?

From what I see, the fit of the scabbard leans to it belonging to the sword.

The sword could be somewhat restored professionally in re-gilding those surfaces. If it is
(and I suspect so) an iron scabbard, it could be stripped and gilded. Are/is there what appears to be wooden liners inside the scabbard?

I would not even rub the blade with oil at this point. Just dust for now. Keep it dry. With a very soft cloth lightly brush off any loose dirt from the grip and other metal parts of the hilt.

The thing about home restoration is that practice makes perfect. Please don't attempt to practice this with this sword. I won't (try not to) further express my concern in going extremely careful in dealing with this. Please, nothing stronger than alcohol on the blade. Avoid oils on any of the gilded surfaces. Go so far as to wearing clean soft white cotton gloves when handling the sword. That may seem extreme but you can see what has been worn off and what has not.

Others may and will offer more suggestions and any's mileage is going to vary.

The figure/bust shown on the blade is most likely just of Pallas Athena (Goddess of War). The rest of it really just martial decoration. The panoply of arms embraces all services. To me, as well , the laurel wreath more of an imperial note of the first empire. If I seem to be dwelling on early, the iron scabbard another clue. Brass was in much greater supply after the Napoleonic War era.

As the blade has remained virtually rust free and there is some gilding left, I would use no oil at all. Insertion and withdrawal of the blade with the edge up to scuff the side as little as possible (vs if it were an old cracking leather scabbard).

Nice sword.