Fort-épaviers, Old Monarchy (circa 1680-1734).

CAVALRYMAN'S STRONG SWORD, Old Regime (circa 1680-1734). 28815 Cast brass hilt. Single-branch guard, guard piece with a bridge, cast and fluted grip, strong straight double-edged blade 95 cm long and 4.7 cm at the ricasso. France. Old Regime (circa 1680-1734). Good condition, some oxidation on the blade with a few nicks on the edges, no scabbard. NOTE: Michel Pétard, in his work "Des sabres et des épées - Troupes à cheval de Louis XIV à l'Empire" (Sabres and Swords - Mounted Troops from Louis XIV to the Empire), Volume 1 (Nantes 1999), indicates in entry no. 6 dedicated to this model (pages 30 and 31): "Originating from the first regulatory system established under Louis XIV, and also including the infantry sword and the grenadier's sabre, this heavy sword is a component of the standardization undertaken by Letellier and Louvois. The hilt is revolutionary and disrupts traditional armorer practices because it is made of cast brass, thus allowing for easy mass production with inexpensive labor." Blades of 95 or 98 cm were reserved for cavalrymen.