French First Empire Hussar Officer’s Saber, Early 19th C

Featuring brass hilt consisting of stirrup guard with twin langets and flat reverse quillon; lion head pommel with integral backstrap and small button. Leather grip with two-strands of twisted brass wire (loose, but unbroken). Curved 32 1/2″ (82.5 cm) single-edged blade with broad single fuller; etched, blued, and gilt over the upper third with floral decoration and stands of arms. Black leather scabbard with long brass drag and throat with frog stud (incomplete). Overall length 37 1/2″ (95.2 cm), not including scabbard. Blade bright, with some fading of the bluing, but retaining nearly all of its original gilding; the last 5″ of the blade with some moderate to heavy pitting, probably from long storage in the leather scabbard. While the scabbard fits the blade and follows the curvature of the blade, it appears that a piece is missing from the throat and it therefore does not seat against the hilt. Scabbard leather flaking, but the seam is completely intact. An attractive privately purchased sword for a light cavalry officer in Napoleon’s famed hussars or Chasseurs à cheval.