Early M1831 Glaive, French Artillery/Infantry Short Sword & Original Scabbard. Napoleon III Era

*Early M1831 Glaive, French Artillery/Infantry Short Sword & Original Scabbard. Napoleon III Era*

An original 1831 Foot Artillery/Infantry Short Sword with original scabbard. 19 1/8th” double-edged wide spatulated steel blade with heavy brass ribbed grip. Blade is deeply stamped with maker’s mark to the blade forte but the makers name is indecipherable. Complete with original brass and leather mounted scabbard. Overall length of sword is approx. 64cm with the blade measuring 49cm.

The French Infantry Briquet or Glaive M1831, “glaive des troupes à pied modèle 1831,” was deployed in the French Army service during the reigns of Louis Philippe I and Napoleon III, so could have seen service in the colonial conquest of Algeria (1830s on), the Crimean War (1853-56), or Napoleon III’s Italian (1859) and Mexican (1860s) expeditions. It was known as the “coupe choux” meaning “cabbage chopper”. It was not a popular weapon, being heavy and unwieldy and it tended to be used more as a field tool instead of a weapon.

The 1831 Short Sword was a modification of the 1816 artillery short sword – a sidearm issued to the French foot artillery. It was heavily influenced by the prevailing Neoclassical style of the day and was based on ancient sculptural depictions of the Roman gladius, the standard sword of the Roman legionaries.
The model was reissued in 1831 with minor changes. Most visibly, the newer model had a ringed grip rather than the fishscale pattern seen in the earlier model.

*Condition*
The blade has darkened over the years and has a reasonable amount of pitting as well as some surface rust particularly on the ricasso, the blade is heavily nicked along the edges. The grip is in good condition with a few service worn dings but overall a nice patina. The scabbard is in good, serviceable condition. Brass throat guard with a few dings but nice patina. The bottom brass guard likewise has several dents but is fully serviceable and nicely patinated. Please see photographs as part of our condition report.

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