In good condition, an Imperial Klingenthal French Waterloo Cuirassier Trooper’s Sword
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The blade’s inscription to the spine and poinçons / inspection stamps to the forte are now feint / rubbed, but the blade clearly dates to pre-1810 as it appears to read “Mfure Impale du Klingenthal Coulaux”, and the clear poinçon is a plain “B” for Bick, making it post-22nd February 1809. The hilt is likely not original but a period replacement after the original was damaged, probably in battle.
The rack / weapon numbers to the hilt and scabbard are different, so the scabbard is a “marriage” which indicates a battlefield pick up / trophy as the French cuirassiers dropped their swords when injured (or worse) / fallen, for the British victors to then pick them up and marry them to an available nearby scabbard. We know the sword was at Waterloo because the blade’s point has been converted from the original hatchet to spear point, as a result of the French regiments doing this just before the famous battle to improve its piercing ability, and did not remain in French service afterwards
We know the sword did not stay in French army hands because of the differing rack umbers (the French would have corrected this), the absence of post-Waterloo poinçons, the hilt was not converted to an 1816 model (with forward pointing guard edges), nor was the grip converted from 12 to having 22 turns.
This sword (or at least the blade) may well have seen action during the Peninsular War and Invasion of Moscow before finally falling to the British at Waterloo.
The straight plain dual fullered blade is in very good condition despite the wear, and is firm in the hilt. The heavy brass guard / hilt is in good condition, some knocks / scuffs. The original leather spiralled grip has some age and wear but is good, plus the twisted grip wire bindings are present and mostly correct (some slight waywardness from use). The period chemically browned scabbard is good. The sword sheathes and draws well.
A truly great historic An XIII Imperial French Cuirassier trooper’s sword for a very attractive / reasonable was £? (too late, now sold). Please quote item reference AI69. Further / full sized images available upon request. Box 2130 120 x 16 x 16 (3.83).
