In very good condition, a Waterloo French Cuirassier (Heavy Cavalry) Sword with Clipped Point, dated to 1815.
Sorry, this item has been sold (NB: we do not divulge sold prices). However, we have a search facility to help you find more similar items. Plus a feature that allows you to enter your email and keywords (for what you are looking for) to be notified by email when anything comes in. Or you can simply browse the various categories. See the left hand navigation column.
Clearly a British bring back battle trophy from Waterloo, a rare unmodified (clipped point) French Cuirassier / Heavy Cavalry Sword. All these An XIII’s started off with clipped points, but Napoleon’s generals ordered they be modified (ground down) to spear point for better piercing ability; a rare few did not get so modified. The fact the scabbard has a different serial number to the hilt, says the sword was collected from the battlefield and then married with a scabbard. If this sword had remained in French service after Waterloo, the point would have been modified, new serial numbers would have matched the sword to the scabbard, or the blade would have been removed from this hilt and remounted into the 1816 model hilt (where the guard has a forward facing edge lip).
The 38 1/4 inch blade is in very good condition and firm in the hilt. The hilt very good, some age / minor denting and scratching, commensurate with battle. The scabbard has been cleaned of its brown chemical finish, long after the battle. The original leather grip is good but a little aged / worn. The grip wire is mostly missing; this happened a lot when the swords were gripped tight and held forward (heavy sword, imagine the stress on the grip and grip wire); fairly easy to replace the wire (buyer can ask us how). The sword sheathes and draws well. Blade dated March 1815 and with the correct poinçons.
A clipped point An XIII AND almost certainly a Waterloo battlefield pick up; it really does not get much better. A great investment at was £? (too late, now sold). Please quote item reference AF70. Further / full sized images available upon request. Box 1243-121x19x16 (3.307).
