A French Model 1882 Infantry Officer's Sword, Chatellerault, Dated 1885.

A French Model 1882 Infantry Officer's Sword, Chatellerault, Dated 1885. This French Model 1882 infantry officer's sword represents a refined and functional design transition in European military sidearms, intended for both active combat and ceremonial parades. Historically, this model was widely adopted by officers of the French cavalry and infantry, and famously utilized by the officer corps of General Haller's Blue Army, a Polish formation under the auspices of the Entente. The weapon features a straight, nickel-plated steel blade with a single edge and a fuller. The hilt is composed of a robust, wide steel guard with multiple branches providing significant hand protection, paired with a contoured dark horn grip. Notably, the ricasso of the blade is a precise hand-engraved inscription identifying its manufacture at the Manufacture d'Armes de Chatellerault in September 1885, and the inscription "Officier d'Infanterie Modele 1882". The sword is completed by its original metal scabbard, which retains a single suspension ring and a fixed drag. The total length of the piece measures approximately 104 cm. The item is in good condition.