French First Empire Hussar Officer’s Saber, Early 19th C

Description

Featuring brass hilt consisting of stirrup guard with twin langets and flat reverse quillon; lion
head pommel with integral backstrap and small button. Leather grip with two-strands of
twisted brass wire (loose, but unbroken). Curved 32 1/2″ (82.5 cm) single-edged blade with
broad single fuller; etched, blued, and gilt over the upper third with floral decoration and
stands of arms. Black leather scabbard with long brass drag and throat with frog stud
(incomplete). Overall length 37 1/2″ (95.2 cm), not including scabbard. Blade bright, with
some fading of the bluing, but retaining nearly all of its original gilding; the last 5″ of the
blade with some moderate to heavy pitting, probably from long storage in the leather
scabbard. While the scabbard fits the blade and follows the curvature of the blade, it
appears that a piece is missing from the throat and it therefore does not seat against the
hilt. Scabbard leather flaking, but the seam is completely intact. An attractive privately
purchased sword for a light cavalry officer in Napoleon’s famed hussars or Chasseurs à
cheval.