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Post by leseme on May 13, 2022 12:48:59 GMT
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Post by pellius on May 13, 2022 12:59:53 GMT
“Some years ago I purchased this very attractive sword in London, being told that it was French Napoleonic, however I have never done any further research on it. The sword has silver or silver plated hilt with what looks like a black ebony grip, the blade still has most of its blue and gilt. There are no markings on the sword. The steel scabbard also has silver or silver plated fittings. Thanks for looking at my post.”
(Text from post on Beginners Subforum. 🙂)
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Post by bas on May 13, 2022 21:31:15 GMT
That’s an attractive sword, not sure if it is French with the P shaped stirrup hilt like that. Possibly Austrian or Austro-Hungarian? Are there any markings on the spine of the blade or under the langets? This may help date the sword as the blade decorations look fairly generic early 19th Century.
Edit: if the fittings are silver then they may have hallmarks that will help identify it.
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Post by leseme on May 14, 2022 8:30:33 GMT
Thank you. I have looked all over the sword and scabbard and there are no markings from what I can see. On closer inspection the hilt is silver plated brass as you can see the brass worn through in places, hence the lack of hallmarks I guess?
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Uhlan
Member
Posts: 3,121
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Post by Uhlan on May 14, 2022 21:52:49 GMT
Anything under the langets?
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Post by leseme on May 15, 2022 4:52:05 GMT
Unfortunately nothing.
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Uhlan
Member
Posts: 3,121
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Post by Uhlan on May 15, 2022 6:51:04 GMT
Blue seems to end in the tendril fashion. A German and Anglo sphere thing. Never really caught on in France. I think it it safe to say the blade was Solingen made. I cannot remember anymore when the tendril motive was de rigeur. Didn't it start after 1815? When I look at the designs on the various bronze fittings, hilt included, I do not see anything what makes me think this was an Officer sabre. No military symbolism, nothing. Just the standard motives on the blade. A couple of weeks ago we had another one of these sabres. It also had the guillon ending with an acorn. What was the conclusion there? Militia? Some civilian society? Whatever it was made for and in what period, I have this notion it was made after Napoleon, it is a very nice example of a well made delux class sabre. Very nice indeed. Napoleonic or not.
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Post by leseme on May 15, 2022 16:00:02 GMT
Thank you for your detailed comments, I am not expert in this area, but take onboard what you have said.
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Post by bas on May 15, 2022 20:45:57 GMT
To echo Uhlan's comments on Napoleonic era French swords the bluing normally terminated in a straight line. The fashion did have some presence later in France but is more commonly seen on British and other nations' swords. When looking under the langets of my 1796 LC's, I've found it very helpful to take a video with my iPhone (flash on).
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Post by leseme on May 16, 2022 3:06:39 GMT
Thanks bas, I will take your advice and try a video under the langets.
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Post by leseme on May 29, 2022 4:55:47 GMT
Took a video under the langets but still no markings visible.
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