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French M1829 Artillery Sabre/WW1 Trench Clearance Weapon

Posted: 31/08/17 (14:16pm)

P1110366
French M1829 Artillery Sabre shortened for use as a WW1 trench clearance weapon.

This sword began as a French artillery officer's sabre, Model 1829, made by the Chatelherault armoury in 1843. It was issued in France, based on the stamps on the brass D-guard but what action it saw during the latter half of the 19th Century can only be guessed at.

The sword was reportedly brought back to the UK from France after World War 1, where it may have been used as a trench clearance and close combat weapon. Whether the blade was intentionally cut short to make it more suitable for trench warfare or whether the damaged sword was re-pointed for use we will never know. Either way, it would have been an effective close quarters weapon.

I purchased the sword in a catalogue auction as part of a job lot - which included a rare British hooked quillon bayonet, but as with all auctions, the vendor remained anonymous and the only information available was that the items were all believed to be from WW1. I have no reason to doubt this - the other items are beyond question of WW1 use/issue.
I would love to know more about this sword's history but unfortunately that's not going to happen. It makes it very hard to value because on one hand, it's a broken 19th Century sword. On the other, if it was a WW1 trench weapon it's a very interesting artefact and presumably, to the right people, highly collectable. As it's definitely the former and I can't prove the latter, I have decided to go with what I feel is a very reasonable price - £75. After all, it is a very interesting piece, whatever its story.
If only it could talk...