A French decorated, officer's saber of the National Horse Guard, model AN IX, France, 1810-1815.

A French decorated, officer's saber of the National Horse Guard, model AN IX (1801), France, 1810-1815. This fine saber is in very good condition for an object of its age. Light cavalry sabres with three bows on the hilt appeared in the year IX (1800) during the Consulate period (1799-1804) and were slightly modified in the year XI (1802-1803). This saber model was subsequently copied, with minor modifications, in Holland, Russia, Spain, Prussia, and Bavaria. Judging by the needle-punched description on the blade spine "MANUFACTURE DE SOLINGEN K.S.&C," the blade was forged by the renowned German firm "Kirschbaum, Schimmelbusch & Comp." This type of inscription appeared after 1810, dating the saber to the last five years of Napoleon Bonaparte's reign. The blade is etched with the words "GARDE NATIONALE A CHEVAL" ("NATIONAL HORSESHIP GUARDS" in French) on both sides and "LIBERTE ORDRE PUBLIC" ("LIBERTY AND PUBLIC ORDER" in French) on the other. The hilt consists of a grip and a brass guard. The wooden grip is covered in leather and wrapped in two rows of twisted copper wire along the transverse grooves. The back of the grip is covered with a brass strip, smoothly transitioning to the pommel. The guard is formed by a front guard, which transitions into a crossguard with a downward-curved end, and two side guards. A decorative almond-shaped brass shield is attached to the center of the crossguard. The scabbard is steel, two nuts with movable rings for the sword belt, and asymmetrical metal shoe. Excellent condition. Length: 105 cm.