Rare Pair Dueling Swords, For Duelling Box Inscribed "dieu Me Garde"

A pair of dueling swords from the second halfthe second half of the 19th century, approximately1860-1880. This date can be estimated on the basis of the bowl-shaped guards, which foreshadow the deeper models of the very late 19th century, and estimated too on th ebase of the decorative motifs which are characteristic of the mid19th century.
The mounts are, of course, strictly identical, and are of high quality. The great feature of these dueling swords is that they can be easily dismantled for transport, and were originally intended as part of a now defunct box for dueling sword set . These boxes for duelling swords sets are very rare, and inside, the blades are usually presented separately from the mounts.
The other distinctive feature is the inscription on only one of the 2 guards: "DIEU ME GARDE" (Shall God guard me / protect me)". This was off course  the weapon intended for the box's owner himself.
BLADES: After a very short 1 cm ricasso, they take on a triangular cross-section with 3 hollow sides. They are naturally identical in shape and length. They are in very good condition. At the level of the ricasso, we find engravedthe inscription "BARRE FABt PARIS".( = Barré sword maker Paris)  Such a mark is known on an 1822 light cavalry saber blade. Barré probably belongs to the family of Joseph Barré, whose son (or nephew) Gaston Barré, after working as a swordmaquer and gunmaker  in Niort, turned to cycle manufacturing and automobile assembling at the end of the 19th century.
Blade length = 88.3 cm, width at ricasso = 2 cm thickness near guard 0.9 cm. The balance point is at the rear of the ricasso, just inside the cup, giving these swords a very good balance in the hand.
CUP GUARDS: these are shaped like a broad, flattened bowl, and are decorated with an abundant motif of flowers and plants. On the outside of just one of the guards is the inscription."DIEU ME GARDE"
POMMELS: They are elegant, steel 8-facets decorated with vegetal plant motifs. They are topped by a small screwed cylindrical knob.
GRIPS : These are covered with atriple fine iron wire binding alternating with a coarser twisted wire binding. These grips are originally shlitly curved; I think this is deliberate, in relation with th emanner of having the weapons in hand. If you wish to modify this inclination, as the handles are extremely easy to remove, this is no problem at all.

In conclusion, this is a fine pair of dueling swords, of far superior quality to the usual models. The inscription on one of the guards gives it added interest.
Shipping costs: France 40€, Western Europe 60 €.
Ref AX-2636