French M1822 Light Cavalry Officer’s Sword
Curved blade fullered a la Montmorency (one narrow fuller running close to the spine, and a broader central fuller) with hatchet point. No leather washer. Brass three-bar hilt, the outer bars cast with ornamentation, brass oval pommel cap similarly decorated. Grip of brown horn, bound with wire. Steel scabbard with two bands with hanging rings. Blade 92cm (36.22 inches) in length, the sword 106.5cm (41.93 inches) overall.
This sword is completely unmarked with no maker’s mark, poincons etc. It would have been a private purchase by a cavalry officer - French officers in the 19th century were responsible for buying their own uniforms, equipment, and weapons. This being the case there is no standardization for markings and their absence is not unusual.
The inside of the guard is cast with a half fleur-de-lys atop a seven-branched palmette (‘Half’ because the bottom section of the flower form below the central band is omitted, this referred to in French as fleur-de-lis au pied coupé). There are also half fleur-de-lys motifs at the base of the decoration on each side bar, both inside and out. The fleur-de-lys was used on these swords from 1822 until 1831, so this sword is most likely an early example. The presence of two scabbard rings are also an early feature.
The blade is bright with only a few spots of light patination in its main section, some spotted moderate patination in the tip section on both sides. No damage to its edge, which is sharpened with visible sharpening marks. The brass hilt and pommel have an even patina with only a few tiny spots of darker patination, some tiny dents to the hilt bars and pommel. The horn grip has one small chip to its rib nearest the hilt, also some rubbing wear to the same rib. It is otherwise in fine condition with little handling wear, its wire binding is all intact and tight.
The scabbard is free of dents, with some light scratching in places. It is darkly patinated overall, mottled in areas and brighter on raised edges like the throat piece - I believe at least some scabbards for the M1822 were darkly finished to begin with, so this finish may have been worn down from uniformly dark rather than patinating from bright.
