A FRENCH AN XI LIGHT CAVALRY TROOPER'S SWORD, NAPOLEON ARMY. FRANCE, EARLY 19TH CENTURY, EMPIRE PERIOD
Origin: France, First Empire period, 1812-1815, Klingenthal Manufactory.
The AN-XI sword was created for all light cavalry regiments of the Napoléon's Grand Armée, was used by the chasseurs, hussars, lancers. In British army the equivalent was 1796 Pattern saber. The French An XI (Year 11) light cavalry sabres take their designations from the Revolutionary Calendar used in France from the declaration of the Republic on 22nd September 1792 (Day 1 of Year 1) until the Gregorian calendar was restored by the Emperor Napoleon 1er in January 1806.
Wide and massive curved single edged blade with one wide fuller both sides. Remains of the engraved signature on spice, visible only part of “Klingenthal”. Three control stamps on ricasso:
- K under the crown in oval, for Joseph Krantz, inspector from Jan 1st 1812;
- illegible cipher, probably B in circle, for Jean-Georges Bick, 1st class controller, this stamp was in use from 1812 until mai 1815;
- L in circle, for Francois Luois Lobstein, revisor, stamp in use from June 15th 1804 until 1821.
Based on marks and inscription, the blade was made in between 1812 and 1815 in Klingenthal.
Closed brass hilt, guard with three branches connecting the yelman and pommel, the back strap piece has a slight tilt forward. Back arm of the yelman bent towards the blade with a ball finial. A wooden leather-wrapped grip with two olive shaped rivets. Stamped B in circle inside the guard (for Joseph Ambroise Bish, 2nd class controller), stamp used from 1809 till 1824). On the back branch of the knuckle bow repeated Bick’s and Krant’s stamps and cipher “3” in the rectangle.
Thick steel scabbard with two suspension rings. No stamps visible.
Dimensions: total length in scabbard – 105,5 cm, without scabbard – 101,3 cm; blade’s length – 87,5 cm; width – 37 mm; thickness – 9 mm.
Keywords: sword, saber, sabre, Sabel, Schwert, szabla, szablya, glaive, Dolch, hanger, сабля