French Sabre

[eisman]

I picked this up at an flea market outside Paris a couple weeks ago. I've been slowly working on getting the rust off with oil and steel wool and putting some time into polishing the brass. It was pretty red when I got it. Need some help with a couple things, first, can anyone positively ID the model? Also, I've discovered some engraving, some of which looks to have had gold leaf at one time. Anybody want to take a guess at what it says? Last, I'm pretty sure to disassemble this would involve removing the peening at the hilt, and I'm not sure I want to do that as leaving enough metal to re-peen it on reassembly would be problematic. But the grip, which appears to be horn, is cracking, and I'd like to stabilize that. Any ideas?

 

[SimplyMinded]

I picked this up at an flea market outside Paris a couple weeks ago. I've been slowly working on getting the rust off with oil and steel wool and putting some time into polishing the brass. It was pretty red when I got it. Need some help with a couple things, first, can anyone positively ID the model? Also, I've discovered some engraving, some of which looks to have had gold leaf at one time. Anybody want to take a guess at what it says? Last, I'm pretty sure to disassemble this would involve removing the peening at the hilt, and I'm not sure I want to do that as leaving enough metal to re-peen it on reassembly would be problematic. But the grip, which appears to be horn, is cracking, and I'd like to stabilize that. Any ideas?

Don't take it apart. You correctly assessed that its supposed to be permanent. Mineral oil on the blade.
There are two or three guys here who will know what it is. I'm not one of them so hang in there and they'll show eventually.
You weren't heavy handed with it, no wire wheel or anything too wild. Good. Neat sword.

 

[helobite]

Based on the hilt decoration, the obvious owner crest, and what I can figure out from the blade inscription, you have an Officer's Model M1822 light cavalry sword. The manufacturer is Chatellerault. I can't make out the date of other than it is 18??. But it was made in January.

I have an Officer's M1822 made in 1844, it is a lighter sword than the enlisted men's versions. The enlisted model of sword was the basis for the American M1840 used in huge quantities during the American Civil war, and in the frontier period. I have a M1840 Ames from 1845 and it is for all intents and purposes, an exact copy of the French M1822 enlisted. The M1860 sword was "based" on the M1822. The M1860 was used in the American Civil through the frontier period, it is a light version of the M1822.

Still being made for the US in 1906

I am of the opinion the M1822 was one of the most successful military cavalry sword patterns ever made. The Turks had a version, the American's, did, South American countries copied it. The Germans made lots of M1840's for the American Civil war, don't know if they made any for themselves. I have a French M1822 that was made in the 1920's. It has an extraordinary service life for a sword. It is one of the great cavalry swords, well balanced, good for the thrust, good for the cut.

Now the hard part is finding who the original owner was. Good luck on that.

The American M1850 Infantry Officer sword was copied from the French pattern. French military swords were good designs, and were excellent for the purpose. This is a M1850 American Officer's sword, made by the French firm Klingenthal. This M1850 made to sell during the American Civil War.

It is my recollection that Confederate General JEB Stuart carried a French Officer Model M1822 during the American Civil War. Having either a French, or British sword, was quite the prestige item for an American Officer. They, like their European counterparts, had to buy their sidearms, which is why there are more Officer model swords around. The Officers took them home, while the weapons held by the military often ended up being demilled.

 

[eisman]

It appears the scabbard was blued, and possibly the blade was also, as there's colour in the fullers. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[horseclover]

The forte of the blade may have been blued, along with the gold but the scabbard would have been bright. Scabbards were sometimes browned, like a brown bess but a fine sword would likely have had a bright scabbard and blade bluing with design just halfway.

Cheers
GC