M1845 Subaltern Infantry Officer's Sword
Nov 12, 2023 1:13:07 GMT
Post by madirish on Nov 12, 2023 1:13:07 GMT
After starting my collection with repro medieval swords, I got sucked into the antique world. I started with a Prussian Artillery Officer's Sword this spring and have branched out from there. i thought I would stick to the Germany WWI and earlier milieu, but have been spending money like a drunken sailor, courting divorce from Mrs. Mad Irish. I've really been enjoying researching and learning about antique swords. it is an interesting rabbit hole to go down...just wish I did it 20 yrs ago when the prices were lower.
The sword in question is an 1845 pattern French Infantry Officer's Sabre, this one appearing to be a subaltern model. The sword is marked as made by Creuzé and Proa. Creuzé and Proa were the entrepreneurs who ran Chatellerault between 1835 and 1851. Creuzé continuing on his own until 1866. Creuzé and Proa were from the two most powerful families in Chatellerault, and ruled the manufacture for decades. They were responsible for hiring and managing the production staff, as well as maintaining the space and machinery. Even though they ran Chatellerault for most of 20 yrs, it is rare to find a private purchase sword blade bearing their names. Entrepreneurs were private individuals who were given a contract by the army to manage the production of weapons at the State owned manufacture of Chatellerault. The entrepreneurs were allowed to keep a private business on the side and to sell blades made at the manufacture, either discarded for minor cosmetics faults, or inspected by their own staff.
This was a private purchase. The price was reasonable and the sword very attractive.
My other French pieces are trooper pieces so the additional engraving and decoration were welcome. The brass guard and hilt components were in nice shape. Unfortunately, the brass guard has some movement/rattle that was not reported by the PO. I spoke with him about it and he believes it might be the result of shipping as it was not doing so when shipped. Customs did open the package and inspect it, but it did not appear that they unwrapped the item at all. The hilt and grip are dead solid, but the guard and knuckle piece rattle a little bit when shaken or the blade is struck or the guard is handled. Peen is nicely done. This saber did not come with a scabbard. As made, it would have come with a leather scabbard and that has, apparently, been lost to time. The blade has couple of minor nicks. The edge is currently at about 1mm in thickness (same with the false edge). The point of the blade is quite sharp, but has a little burr (that may be the result of the tip protection not doing it's job in shipment and the US Customs folks inspecting the package). The blade is stained and pitted commensurate with its age and probable storage in a leather scabbard at some point.
I did a little cleanup on the blade and brightened it up some more, but have not attacked the pitting with anything aggressive and may not bother at all other than maybe a brass brush. It has character.
Statistics
OAL: 36.25" 92.81cm
Blade Length: 30.25" 76.84cm
Weight (mass): 28.67oz, 1.792lb (812.7g)
POB: 5.25"
COP: ~19"
Blade width/thickness at base: 30mm/8mm
Blade width/thickness at 25% of blade length: 27mm/5mm
Blade width/thickness at 50% of blade length: 27mm/5mm
Blade width/thickness at 75% of blade length: 58mm/4.5m
Blade width/thickness at 2" from tip: 20mm/3.3mm
Blade width/thickness at 1" from tip: 12.5mm/2.7mm
Main edge and false edge are about 1mm thick.
Fuller starts about 3/8" from Guard
Fuller is 18mm wide at guard end
Spine starts to taper to false edge at about 18.75"
False Edge is about 7" long
False Edge is about 1" wide
I am a novice with respect to blade handling. It certainly doesn't have the presence of my 1822 or 1829, but it feels nimbler in the hand. I'll post the Weapon Dynamics Computer results here.
It is a lovely sword and I am happy with the purchase...now I just have to hunt down a scabbard for it somewhere! Luckily, all my antique purchases have had scabbards so far, but this one.