French Mod 1896 & 1923 Cavalry sword Part 1: the Officers
Nov 3, 2020 21:32:25 GMT
Post by Pino on Nov 3, 2020 21:32:25 GMT
I'm not going to talk too much on the officers sword 1896 because a lot has already been said about it so I'll just focus on the main features and present 3 nice specimen + bonus.
This sword was the design of sculptor Alexandre Falguiere and Châtellerault (produced in oct 1895) and is much reminiscent of the Art Nouveau artistic genre; the guard from guard to pommel is finely decorated with floral leaves and a Medusa head on the quillon. This was the basis of the sword and officers had a variety of customization at their disposal offered by the private industry (extra chiselled, metal alloy, thickness of hilt, extra floral patterns, grip form + material, etc).
The blades were mostly, if not always, provided by Châtellerault and were marked and dated with the year of production. The officer could choose to have 3 types of blade sizes: 1st taille at 95cm, 2nd taille at 90cm and 3rd taille at 85cm. Regimental service did no longer matter for the size type.
First specimen is a standard looking 1896 sword but the hilt is made of a rose-gold alloy very similar to copper. The hilt's floral decoration, while not being extra rich or of the best quality, is present as per regulations and so is the Medusa head on the quillon. Its most interesting feature is the presence of 3 silver stars which is the rank of Brigadier-General.
The blade is marked Sabre d'officier de cavalerie Mle 1896 Manufacture Nationale d'armes de Chatellerault 1901 JH (Jacob Holzer entreprises, who made quality iron products). As was standard for these models, the tip has an extra back fuller on the false edge; because of claims that stated that this made the blades fragile it was removed in 1907.
Length total: 109cm
Sword: 106cm
Blade: 90cm
Second specimen is a more elaborate sword: the brass guard chiseled decoration is much more detailed and rich in design. To the pommel has been fixed the owner's initials and noble status in the form of a crown (marquis or viscount not exactly sure). The hilt appears to be made of a specific type of brass alloy called Metal Delta which rendered the metal more durable and also prevents tarnishing over time and always stays shiny.
The grip is made of sharkskin (galuchat), which was rather uncommon in French swords but available at an extra cost for wealthier officers.
The blade markings are unfortunately hard to read but remains date it to 1910 and of the 2nd taille size. The ricasso is stamped with inspection stamps B and C.
Length total : 110cm
Sword: 106cm
Blade: 90cm
Third specimen is an interesting variant which shows another type of hilt available. These were completely devoid of any regulation decoration on hilt (except the officer's initials) and only kept the hilt shape. Also this is entirely made of iron instead of brass.
Unlike what one might think at first, these were not NCO swords and were often found on catalogues as officer sabres.
Another unusual aspect is that the blade is an old 1883 model; the back reads Mfture d'armes de Chatt 8bre (Oct) 1893 Officier de cavalerie 1883 Entr A Treuille (entrepreneur/cutler)
Length total : 114cm
Sword: 111cm
Blade: 95cm
1923 Cavalry officer sword
The last cavalry sword to be issued by the French Army, this last attempt of a sword came when there was no need for such a weapon yet in July 1922 at the request of the War Department wanting to standardize swords, Châtellerault produced 2 models: one for the mounted service units (tanks, cavalry and horse elements) and another for dismounted units (infantry, artillery and other foot regiments). Adopted on 1926 and produced until 1939, this sword was just a simplified 1896 sword with one less side branch and no decoration on the inner side of guard.
The blade shape made the distinction between the 2 unit classes: straight double fullered for horse units and single fullered for the foot units.
Sizes were 95cm, 90cm and 85cm depending on the officer's choice.
This specimen is marked Sabre d'officier de troupes a cheval, Mle 1923, 3e taille, Manufacture nationale d'armes de Chatellerault Juillet 1930.
Length total: 104cm
Sword: 100cm
Blade: 85cm
This sword was the design of sculptor Alexandre Falguiere and Châtellerault (produced in oct 1895) and is much reminiscent of the Art Nouveau artistic genre; the guard from guard to pommel is finely decorated with floral leaves and a Medusa head on the quillon. This was the basis of the sword and officers had a variety of customization at their disposal offered by the private industry (extra chiselled, metal alloy, thickness of hilt, extra floral patterns, grip form + material, etc).
The blades were mostly, if not always, provided by Châtellerault and were marked and dated with the year of production. The officer could choose to have 3 types of blade sizes: 1st taille at 95cm, 2nd taille at 90cm and 3rd taille at 85cm. Regimental service did no longer matter for the size type.
First specimen is a standard looking 1896 sword but the hilt is made of a rose-gold alloy very similar to copper. The hilt's floral decoration, while not being extra rich or of the best quality, is present as per regulations and so is the Medusa head on the quillon. Its most interesting feature is the presence of 3 silver stars which is the rank of Brigadier-General.
The blade is marked Sabre d'officier de cavalerie Mle 1896 Manufacture Nationale d'armes de Chatellerault 1901 JH (Jacob Holzer entreprises, who made quality iron products). As was standard for these models, the tip has an extra back fuller on the false edge; because of claims that stated that this made the blades fragile it was removed in 1907.
Length total: 109cm
Sword: 106cm
Blade: 90cm
Second specimen is a more elaborate sword: the brass guard chiseled decoration is much more detailed and rich in design. To the pommel has been fixed the owner's initials and noble status in the form of a crown (marquis or viscount not exactly sure). The hilt appears to be made of a specific type of brass alloy called Metal Delta which rendered the metal more durable and also prevents tarnishing over time and always stays shiny.
The grip is made of sharkskin (galuchat), which was rather uncommon in French swords but available at an extra cost for wealthier officers.
The blade markings are unfortunately hard to read but remains date it to 1910 and of the 2nd taille size. The ricasso is stamped with inspection stamps B and C.
Length total : 110cm
Sword: 106cm
Blade: 90cm
Third specimen is an interesting variant which shows another type of hilt available. These were completely devoid of any regulation decoration on hilt (except the officer's initials) and only kept the hilt shape. Also this is entirely made of iron instead of brass.
Unlike what one might think at first, these were not NCO swords and were often found on catalogues as officer sabres.
Another unusual aspect is that the blade is an old 1883 model; the back reads Mfture d'armes de Chatt 8bre (Oct) 1893 Officier de cavalerie 1883 Entr A Treuille (entrepreneur/cutler)
Length total : 114cm
Sword: 111cm
Blade: 95cm
1923 Cavalry officer sword
The last cavalry sword to be issued by the French Army, this last attempt of a sword came when there was no need for such a weapon yet in July 1922 at the request of the War Department wanting to standardize swords, Châtellerault produced 2 models: one for the mounted service units (tanks, cavalry and horse elements) and another for dismounted units (infantry, artillery and other foot regiments). Adopted on 1926 and produced until 1939, this sword was just a simplified 1896 sword with one less side branch and no decoration on the inner side of guard.
The blade shape made the distinction between the 2 unit classes: straight double fullered for horse units and single fullered for the foot units.
Sizes were 95cm, 90cm and 85cm depending on the officer's choice.
This specimen is marked Sabre d'officier de troupes a cheval, Mle 1923, 3e taille, Manufacture nationale d'armes de Chatellerault Juillet 1930.
Length total: 104cm
Sword: 100cm
Blade: 85cm