French Carabinier or Cuirassier Officers’ sword with ‘Garde de Bataille’ style hilt
The 'Garde de Bataille' or 'Battle Guard' sword hilt is believed to have been inspired by German sword designs of the mid-18th Century. It is around this time that sword hilts which incorporate a clam shell into the guard start to appear on French swords.
It was adopted in 1784 for use by officers of the heavy cavalry (Cuirassiers, Carabiniers). dragoons and Gendarmerie. For a brief period a version with a curved blade was approved for officers of the light cavalry.
With the clam-shell guard, smaller counter guard, knuckle bow with four side branches the Garde de Bataille is a very distinctive hilt and one of my top two favorite sword designs of this era (the British 1803 Pattern being the other).
This sword carries a long, heavy Solingen made blade that closely resembles the blade of the AN XI Sabre of the line (Cuirassiers), including its' hatchet tip. The sword handles like the AN XI, that is to say it is large and cumbersome, suitable for a mounted charge, but not something for a melee brawl. Furthermore there are four piercings in the guard where an emblem such as the flaming bomb would originally have been attached. This would have given us a solid clue as to the officers' branch of service, but alas it is lost.
In time I hope to find a replacement scabbard and emblem for the sword, because it deserves to look as original as possible.
Comparison alongside my other Garde de Bataille showing the difference in size between the two:
Stats:
Overall Length - 1,000 mm
Blade Length - 945 mm
Grip Length - 145 mm
Inside Grip Length - 110 mm
Weight - 1,050 grams
Point of Balance - 160 mm
Not to out myself as someone that’s been on tumblr for too long, but I’m so sad to see this new trend of people saying “I like this thing, even though the show isn’t airing anymore.” Like? That’s how things work! Keep enjoying them! Art doesn’t just vanish when it’s not airing, and it wasn’t made to be exclusively viewed live! 10+ years ago, the idea of saying “Ah, I’m still here in this fandom 2 years after the show was cancelled 😳” would have been BONKERS!
All these kids saying “It’s so sad the shows gone,” no it’s not!!! I saw your fanart yesterday! Last week you told me about my favorite character’s music playlist!!! I saw them running around in your AMV!
Where’s the longevity?? It was made for you!!! Not TV!!! It was made for keeps!!! Keep it!!! Please!!! That’s how art stays alive!!!