FRENCH TROUPES D'ELITE FOOT OFFICER'S SWORD CA.1795

This rare French Directoire period foot or artillery officer's fighting sword is mounted with a 65 cm. long, unfullered blade that retains vestiges of original decorations and has acquired a fine dark patina. Back of the blade is marked KLINGENTHAL, the main center of the French arms production. Grip is of horn, pommel is in the form of an eagle's head. Sword is tight, back-piece has detached from the cross-guard over time, and the quillon is long-gone, probably period-removed. Swords of this type are rarely encountered today. Judging by the eagle pommel, it may have belonged to the French Officier Troupes D'Elite, serving under Napoleon Bonaparte in the Italian campaign.
An excellent early French Revolutionary Wars period sword.