French Cavalry Sword Model 1896 Part II: The Troopers
Nov 19, 2020 16:23:00 GMT
Post by Pino on Nov 19, 2020 16:23:00 GMT
For your viewing pleasure here are 3 specimen of one of the rarest French sword: the 1896 troopers, 1896/54-1915 model and an NCO private purchase variant.
Cavalry Trooper Mle 1896
Perhaps one of the most elusive swords to collectors, the French 1896 trooper sabre is one of the last attempt by the French Army to attain the definitive sword.
Initially developed in 1893, this sword is the continuation of the failed attempt by the Mle 1882 to reequip cavalry units with a standard model.
One of the major complaints with the 1882 sword was the 2 branch guard lacked protection in the eyes of the cuirassiers and dragoons so this sword was designed as an answer to that.
The hilt concept was heavily influenced from the stillborn 1833 Preval project which had a massive bowl shaped guard that offered increased hand protection; the 1896 sword is a slightly reduced version with a central knuckle bow and 2 side branches on each side. The edged of the outer guard were ridged and termed ''brise-pointe'' because it was designed to stop and deviate the enemy point.
As a result of the hilt design, the serial number and inspection stamps were punched on the end part of the main branch where it meets the pommel.
It was paired with a blade similar to that of the Cent-Gardes being straight with one fuller running all the way to the tip; the back edge was added an extra fuller to reduce weight.
The blades were made in two sizes: 95cm for cuirassiers and dragoons (1ere taille) and 90cm for hussars and chasseurs-a-cheval (2e taille).
One particular novelty was that the tang button was no longer made as a simple nut but instead was given a crab-eye like spanner nut to hold it (much like the Prussian KD89). Another was that it was the only trooper sword which had the JH initials on the back (for the foundry Jacob Holzer & cie) for metal quality proof. The ricasso was therefore stamped with the director, controller but also blade temper controller.
This sword was gradually equipped to regiments starting 1896 and officially issued in 1897 but only to cuirassiers and dragoons; the light cavalry units only received it in 1898.
Despite its best efforts, this sword failed yet again as after some use by the units the blades were recalled en masse for being too fragile. In 1907-10 it was decided that the tang button be reverted to the old way and the false edge fuller was removed because it made the blade prone to break. Despite these last ditch changes the model was finally deemed unfit for use and kept only for training as ''sabre de manoeuvre''.
The specimen here is stamped on the branch with the rack number 12398, the other side has the poinçons of V for F.V.A. Veyrines (director from 20/04/1904 to 24/03/1914) and C on circle for E.C. Clemenceau (controller 1st class 21/09/1898 to 1909).
The blade has the same inspection marks with the addition of blade temper controller C on square for A.A.Clemenceau (controller 2nd class 12/10/1902 to 30/03/1909) .
The back reads
Mle 1896 2e taille - Manufture Nationale d'armes de Châtt Mai 1905 - JH
The quillon is stamped SM for sabre de manoeuvre/maniement (training sword).
Length total: 114cm
Sword: 107cm
Blade: 90cm
Dragoon Mle 1896/1854-1915
Quite interestingly enough, some 5 years after the failure of the 1896 sword and despite the war changing the role of cavalry for good, the French Army decided in 1915 to make a special order of 5000 sabres that were going to be given one final upgrade by taking the 1896 hilts and pair them with the older 1854 blades.
This order thus created a new model, the 1896-1915, also termed 1854-1915, which was created and issued exclusively to dragoon units during WW1.
Much like the British 1908 sword, this was to be the last French pattern issued for troopers, quite possibly one of the most versatile swords ever but unfortunately it entered too late in the game to do any positive impact. One has to wonder why this type of sword was never issued from the very start, the hilt is everything you'd want to have for protection and a blade type that proved to have never failed in the past.
It has the same features as the 1896 hilt, the markings and inspection stamps on the same area, the only thing that changes is the blade marking:
Manufacture Nationale d'armes de Châtellerault Mai 1916 - Dragon Mle 1854-1915
The blade having no need of a blade temper inspection, only has 2 poinçons of J for M.R. Jacquot (director from 23/04/1914 to 09/05/1924) and C for E.C. Clemenceau (dates unknown).
This model is one of, if not the, rarest French trooper sword ever
Length total: 112cm
Sword: 108cm
Blade: 92cm
Cavalry sword Mle 1896 - NCO variant
What sets apart the NCO type from the officer's models is the ridged hilt (also called stop rib) which is the same as the troopers sword however the hilt is made of rose-gold alloy rather than plain brass, the shape of the grip is also more ergonomically shaped and made of horn. Notice also that the part of the branch that joins the pommel is made with a ridge that prevents marking it with the serial numbers and inspection stamps.
Officer variants never had these types of hilts, theirs were either floral decorations or plain guards without a stop rib.
The blade however is officers and is marked as such and dated 1904, it measures 95cm and identified as 1st taille. The stamps are the same as the 1896 trooper sword and are V for Veyrines and two C for E.C. Clemenceau and A.A. Clemenceau.
This is a very tall but nimble sword
Length total: 114cm
Sword: 111cm
Blade: 95cm
Cavalry Trooper Mle 1896
Perhaps one of the most elusive swords to collectors, the French 1896 trooper sabre is one of the last attempt by the French Army to attain the definitive sword.
Initially developed in 1893, this sword is the continuation of the failed attempt by the Mle 1882 to reequip cavalry units with a standard model.
One of the major complaints with the 1882 sword was the 2 branch guard lacked protection in the eyes of the cuirassiers and dragoons so this sword was designed as an answer to that.
The hilt concept was heavily influenced from the stillborn 1833 Preval project which had a massive bowl shaped guard that offered increased hand protection; the 1896 sword is a slightly reduced version with a central knuckle bow and 2 side branches on each side. The edged of the outer guard were ridged and termed ''brise-pointe'' because it was designed to stop and deviate the enemy point.
As a result of the hilt design, the serial number and inspection stamps were punched on the end part of the main branch where it meets the pommel.
It was paired with a blade similar to that of the Cent-Gardes being straight with one fuller running all the way to the tip; the back edge was added an extra fuller to reduce weight.
The blades were made in two sizes: 95cm for cuirassiers and dragoons (1ere taille) and 90cm for hussars and chasseurs-a-cheval (2e taille).
One particular novelty was that the tang button was no longer made as a simple nut but instead was given a crab-eye like spanner nut to hold it (much like the Prussian KD89). Another was that it was the only trooper sword which had the JH initials on the back (for the foundry Jacob Holzer & cie) for metal quality proof. The ricasso was therefore stamped with the director, controller but also blade temper controller.
This sword was gradually equipped to regiments starting 1896 and officially issued in 1897 but only to cuirassiers and dragoons; the light cavalry units only received it in 1898.
Despite its best efforts, this sword failed yet again as after some use by the units the blades were recalled en masse for being too fragile. In 1907-10 it was decided that the tang button be reverted to the old way and the false edge fuller was removed because it made the blade prone to break. Despite these last ditch changes the model was finally deemed unfit for use and kept only for training as ''sabre de manoeuvre''.
The specimen here is stamped on the branch with the rack number 12398, the other side has the poinçons of V for F.V.A. Veyrines (director from 20/04/1904 to 24/03/1914) and C on circle for E.C. Clemenceau (controller 1st class 21/09/1898 to 1909).
The blade has the same inspection marks with the addition of blade temper controller C on square for A.A.Clemenceau (controller 2nd class 12/10/1902 to 30/03/1909) .
The back reads
Mle 1896 2e taille - Manufture Nationale d'armes de Châtt Mai 1905 - JH
The quillon is stamped SM for sabre de manoeuvre/maniement (training sword).
Length total: 114cm
Sword: 107cm
Blade: 90cm
Dragoon Mle 1896/1854-1915
Quite interestingly enough, some 5 years after the failure of the 1896 sword and despite the war changing the role of cavalry for good, the French Army decided in 1915 to make a special order of 5000 sabres that were going to be given one final upgrade by taking the 1896 hilts and pair them with the older 1854 blades.
This order thus created a new model, the 1896-1915, also termed 1854-1915, which was created and issued exclusively to dragoon units during WW1.
Much like the British 1908 sword, this was to be the last French pattern issued for troopers, quite possibly one of the most versatile swords ever but unfortunately it entered too late in the game to do any positive impact. One has to wonder why this type of sword was never issued from the very start, the hilt is everything you'd want to have for protection and a blade type that proved to have never failed in the past.
It has the same features as the 1896 hilt, the markings and inspection stamps on the same area, the only thing that changes is the blade marking:
Manufacture Nationale d'armes de Châtellerault Mai 1916 - Dragon Mle 1854-1915
The blade having no need of a blade temper inspection, only has 2 poinçons of J for M.R. Jacquot (director from 23/04/1914 to 09/05/1924) and C for E.C. Clemenceau (dates unknown).
This model is one of, if not the, rarest French trooper sword ever
Length total: 112cm
Sword: 108cm
Blade: 92cm
Cavalry sword Mle 1896 - NCO variant
What sets apart the NCO type from the officer's models is the ridged hilt (also called stop rib) which is the same as the troopers sword however the hilt is made of rose-gold alloy rather than plain brass, the shape of the grip is also more ergonomically shaped and made of horn. Notice also that the part of the branch that joins the pommel is made with a ridge that prevents marking it with the serial numbers and inspection stamps.
Officer variants never had these types of hilts, theirs were either floral decorations or plain guards without a stop rib.
The blade however is officers and is marked as such and dated 1904, it measures 95cm and identified as 1st taille. The stamps are the same as the 1896 trooper sword and are V for Veyrines and two C for E.C. Clemenceau and A.A. Clemenceau.
This is a very tall but nimble sword
Length total: 114cm
Sword: 111cm
Blade: 95cm
