French Napoleonic First Empire AN XI Light Cavalry Officer’s Sword

Carried by hussars, chasseurs à cheval, and other light cavalry units during the Napoleonic Wars, the AN XI, named according to the French Revolutionary Calandar, was introduced in 1802. It was a more consistent pattern that was more easily mass produced than earlier revoltion era examples. Officer’s models, however, were private purchase and could vary greatly in quality, though generally following the same shape and style of the trooper’s model. It features a gilt brass hilt, comrpising D-shape knuckle guard joined by two addictional curving bars originating at the quillon block and together joining the capstan pommel with integral backstrap. Double lozenge-shaped langets and rear scroll quillon. Retains about 40% of its original gilding. Wood grip with leather cover and alternating twisted and single-strand brass wire (wire complete, but somewhat loose). Curved 34 1/2″ single-edged blade with long broad fuller; blued over the upper third, with gold-filled engravings of foliage and stands of arms. Brown steel scabbard with two gilt steel carry bands and rings. Traces of the original bluing remain, primarily within 3 inches of the guard, but all the engravings are sharp and clear. While the sword fits the scabbard and the scabbard is also for a light cavalry officer’s sword of the same period, it does not appear to be the original for this sword and the forward seam is separating as a result of a less than ideal fit. This could very well be as a result of the two being battlefield pickups after Waterloo and fitting together, as the majority of all French AN XI cavalry swords would have been present at the battle. Thousands of French cavalry swords would have littered the battlefield after their many futile attacks against the British infantry squares. Overall length 40 3/8″ (102.5 cm), not including scabbard.