This European light cavalry officer's fighting sword bears a wonderful, profusely decorated blade. hilt is clearly in the French AN XI [1803] style prescribed for light cavalry officers, but the blade is custom-decorated, long and quite massive. This sword could have belonged to a French, Russian, Swedish officer, or a cavalry officer from one of the German States.
Very finely etched and hand-chased decorations are of quality second to none, and the martial motifs are quite different on both sides.
Blade is 90 cm long, 33 mm wide at the ricasso. Single wide fuller runs till about 22 cm short of the point, where the blade becomes rhomboid, gradually tapering down to a spear-point. False edge is about 20 cm long.
By the look of the sword it appears to have hung on the wall for a very long time, and the right side of the blade has nicely patinated, and darker than the reverse side. All of the decorations have survived in fabulous condition!
Lower branch of the guard has a thin fracture at the point where it enters into the knuckle bow, but there is no movement, it is quite together, and very solid. The sword feels very solid as well. A wonderful and unique Napoleonic light cavalry officer's battle weapon!
