A near perfect example of a French model 1845 Infantry Adjutant’s sword made and issued for service during World War One.
The 775mm single-edged Montmorency style blade has twin fullers, one narrow immediately below the flat spine, the other broad and central. Both fullers run the full length of the blade into the quill point. The blade is double-edged for the last 210mm.
The spine is engraved “Manufacture nationale d'armes de Chatellerault Janvier 1916 - Adj't d'Infrie Mle 1845,” indicating that the sword was made at the Chatellerault armoury in January 1916. The blade has some light scratches, mainly towards the hilt and is in overall excellent condition.
The brass guard is richly decorated with pierced roses and laurels with a scroll quillon. The D-guard divides as it joins the capped pommel to allow for the addition of a port epee. The pommel cap is etched with a central rose flanked by laurels. The tang of the blade is peened in the centre of the stepped oval pommel. The guard is in excellent condition. The bar of the D bears two inspection poincon and the rim of the solid half-front section of the guard is stamped with the serial number 57444. The ridged grip is in excellent condition and the twisted wire binding is intact and tight.
The sabre is complete with its matching polished steel scabbard. The scabbard is in excellent condition and bears inspection poincon below the throat and on the drag. The suspension ring band bears the matching serial number 57444. The sword sheaths and draws smoothly and is held firmly within the scabbard.
This sabre would have been the property of a career infantry adjutant, serving prior to and during World War 1. It is an excellent example of the iconic French model 1845 army sabre.
