This French Model AN XI Cuirassiers sword has been re-hilted with the 1854 pattern heavy cavalry guard. The AN XI sword blade was made at the Klingenthal armoury in 1814. This was not an uncommon practice as blades in good condition were re-hilted in line with new regulations in hilt patterns and this style of blade was in use by the French heavy cavalry until the late 19th Century.
The 960mm straight, single edged blade has a flat spine and twin fullers that continue to the spear point. Originally the blade would have had a hatchet point but around 1815-1816, the original points of these swords were ground to spear points. The blade was made at the Klingenthal factory in June 1814 and bears the Klingenthal inspection stamp of François Louis Lobstein, a Klingenthal inspector since 1804. The other poincon have been polished out. The spine is faintly engraved with the Klingenthal armoury name and the clear, but worn manufacture date.
The blade is in very good condition with minimal speckles of pale grey tarnish.
The four barred guard is in great condition and is stamped with various poincon and armoury marks that indicate a date of about 1870. The leather wrapped grip is in good condition with partial loss to the wire. The blade is firm in the hilt.
The sword is complete with its scabbard with two suspension rings and a lyre-shaped shoe. The scabbard is in very good condition. It is likely that the scabbard was made during the Franco-Prussian War, probably at the same time as the Napoleonic blade was re-hilted in the 1854 pattern guard.
This is a great piece of history. A Napoleonic Wars Cuirassier’s sword that had been in service since 1814 and was re-hilted in the 1854 pattern guard, probably in order to equip troops for the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. A fantastic opportunity to own a Napoleonic Wars sword at a fraction of the price!
