In good condition, a guaranteed authentic Klingenthal Waterloo French Cuirassier Trooper’s Sword
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The hilt / guard is clearly older, having dings and dents and a crossed out earlier rack number. The engraving and poincons / inspection marks to the blade are rubbed feint to gone in places, but the Klingenthal inscription is clearly / importantly “??pale du Klingenthal Juin 1???” (Imperial), not “Rale du Klingenthal Juin 1???” (Royale) which, given the “B” in circular chains poincon for Bick means the blade is dated June 1815. Which all means, during the rushed preparations for the 100 Days War upon Napoleon’s return from his first exile, when weapons were in short supply, an older An XIII with a damaged blade received a new blade (and scabbard).
Further, we know this is likely a (post battle) war trophy, not a battlefield pick up because the later tend not to have matching rack numbers to the hilt and scabbard (as swords were literally dropped in battle and then later married up with another captured / fallen scabbard); this one has matching rack numbers, so was likely taken off a lucky (surviving) French Cuirassier. We know the sword was at Waterloo because the original hatchet point has been field modified to a spear point as most were under a French general field order to do so. We know the sword did not stay in French service because there are no post Waterloo poincons, the grip has a pre-1816 number of grip wire turns and the hilt is An XIII not the replacement 1816m (with forward pointing edges).
The almighty 37 1/2 inch blade is in good condition and firm in the hilt. The hilt has battle scars but is in good shape generally. The original leather of the grip has dried and flaked (cheap leather balsam is the recommended action), the twisted grip wire bindings are good. The heavy blackened steel scabbard is presumed to be original blackening and is in good order. The sword sheathes and draws well.
A cracker, and well under what they normally sell for, just was £? (too late, now sold). Please quote item reference Z63. Further / full sized images available upon request. Box 1577-123x14x14 (2.984).
