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Lot of 2 French Officer's Swords

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:150.00 USD
Lot of 2 French Officer's Swords
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Lot of Two (2) Early 19th Century French Officer's Swords: (1) French Infantry Officer's Sword, ca. 1820-1840, with 28-1/4'' curved blade with single wide fuller. Blade is decorated with etched floral and military motifs for about a quarter of the blade length, starting at the ricasso area. There are traces of the fire blued finish with gold-gilded highlights, but only around 10% of that finish remains. Guard is brass with two branches and is decorated in relief with laurel leaves and flowers. The grooved handle is covered with leather and wrapped with a single strand of brass wire. Scabbard is leather with a brass drag and upper fitting with frog stud. OAL is 34''. Condition is very good with the blade having scattered light pitting and rust stains overall, some evidence of sharpening, and a couple of very minor edge nicks. Guard and pommel are in nice shape. Handle shows minor scuffs and age to the leather covering, with all the wire wrapping intact. Scabbard leather shows age, scuffs, and some losses to the stitching on the rear. Brass scabbard fittings are in nice shape with a mellowed dark brass patina. (2) 1822 Pattern Infantry Officer's Sword, with 29-3/4'' slightly curved blade with narrow and wide fullers, marked on back spine with a Klingenthal arsenal mark dated 1825, and a couple of arsenal proofmarks at the ricasso area. The two-branch guard and pommel are brass with floral decorations in relief. Grooved handle is wood with a leather covering an wrapped with a single twisted brass wire. Scabbard looks like a WWII Japanese officer's scabbard with brass hanger fitting applied to the mouth. OAL is 36''. Condition is good. Blade is cleaned bright and shows minor rust pitting near the ricasso. The guard and pommel are bright showing much of the original gold fire gilt finish, with some of the brass base showing through. Handle shows scuffs to the leather, but all the wire wrapping is intact and tight. Scabbard shows losses to a repainted green finish, missing the drag, and upper fitting is slightly loose. Est.: $300-$500/lot.