Sabre de Cavalerie de Ligne des Modeles An XIII
‘Sabre of the line cavalry model of year 13′ – French heavy cavalry troopers sabre as issued to the Dragoons and Cuirassiers of the Napoleonic ‘Grande Armee’.
This examples’ blade is marked AP for Arsenal de Paris, which was turned into a military approval and storage facility after 1796. Next to the lictor bundle stamp, an approval mark for the French war administration from 1795 to possibly as late as 1814. This possibly indicates that the blade was of private or foreign manufacture so required an official quality test before acceptance.
The hilt was manufactured in Versailles and carries multiple inspector stamps. Between 1814 and 1816 most of the AN XIII sword blades in service had the point re-profiled from a hatchet tip to a spear tip. The original leather or steel scabbard was also replaced with the 1816 model shown.
Much loved by the French Cuirassiers who were reluctant to give them up, these swords had a long service life and it is not uncommon to find an First Empire manufactured blade mounted on a later model 1854 hilt.
For more on these interesting and iconic swords click on the links below.
https://sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/44782/broadsword-pallasch-cuirassier-sword-influence
https://sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/59634/notes-french-cuirassiers-dragoons-swords
Overall Length – 1020 mm
Blade Length – 960 mm
Grip Length – 157 mm
Inside Grip Length – 123 mm
Weight – 1300 grams
Total Weight – 2300 grams
Point of Balance – 140 mm
