France. Antique French Infantry Officer Sword. Model 1821

Antique French infantry officer sword, corresponding to the Model 1821, a piece of elegant bearing and marked military personality, highly representative of French officership in the nineteenth century. It is a regulation weapon of great formal sobriety, conceived to accompany the officer’s uniform and characterised by a well proportioned brass hilt, a curved blade of classical profile and a leather scabbard with metal mounts.

The hilt is made of brass and presents a harmonious and functional configuration. The grip, of slightly curved profile, retains its metal wire binding or very tightly wound twist, offering a firm grip. The pommel, with rounded outline and button finial, preserves the characteristic aesthetic of this type of French officer sword. The guard has a main branch with an inner secondary branch, a detail that provides additional protection to the hand. The quillon ends in small vegetal decorative elements, and the knuckle guard also shows ornamentation.

The blade is curved, single edged and very well proportioned, with a slender and elegant silhouette. It retains its correctly formed tip. It shows patina and stains, visible in several areas, but preserves its integrity and historical presence well. The scabbard retains its black leather body, now with pronounced wear, dryness, losses to the surface and a very marked patina from the passage of time. Even so, it remains complete and accompanies the sword correctly. The brass mounts remain in good overall condition, with one suspension ring still present, and the chape retains its shape well.

The overall condition is good within its age. The hilt preserves its structure well and much of its decorative reading, the grip correctly retains its wire binding, the blade shows surface wear compatible with the period, and the scabbard, although tired and with notable wear to the leather, remains complete and accompanies the weapon well. It is an authentic piece, with character and with a very attractive historical presence.

In short, this is an antique French infantry officer sword, Model 1821, of classical typology, with elegant hilt, guard with inner secondary branch and original leather scabbard with brass mounts. It is a very interesting piece for collectors of militaria and nineteenth century edged weapons.

Measurements: Total length of the sword: 90 cm, (35.43 in). Blade length: 75.5 cm, (29.72 in).