French Napoleonic First Empire AN XI Light Cavalry Officer’s Sword

Description

Carried by hussars, chasseurs à cheval, and other light cavalry units during the Napoleonic
Wars, the AN XI, named according to the French Revolutionary Calandar, was introduced in
1802. It was a more consistent pattern that was more easily mass produced than earlier
revoltion era examples. Officer’s models, however, were private purchase and could vary
greatly in quality, though generally following the same shape and style of the trooper’s
model. It features a gilt brass hilt, comrpising D-shape knuckle guard joined by two
addictional curving bars originating at the quillon block and together joining the capstan
pommel with integral backstrap. Double lozenge-shaped langets and rear scroll quillon.
Retains about 40% of its original gilding. Wood grip with leather cover and alternating
twisted and single-strand brass wire (wire complete, but somewhat loose). Curved 34 1/2″
single-edged blade with long broad fuller; blued over the upper third, with gold-filled
engravings of foliage and stands of arms. Brown steel scabbard with two gilt steel carry
bands and rings. Traces of the original bluing remain, primarily within 3 inches of the guard,
but all the engravings are sharp and clear. While the sword fits the scabbard and the
scabbard is also for a light cavalry officer’s sword of the same period, it does not appear to
be the original for this sword and the forward seam is separating as a result of a less than
ideal fit. This could very well be as a result of the two being battlefield pickups after
Waterloo and fitting together, as the majority of all French AN XI cavalry swords would have
been present at the battle. Thousands of French cavalry swords would have littered the
battlefield after their many futile attacks against the British infantry squares. Overall length
40 3/8″ (102.5 cm), not including scabbard.