IMPERIAL GUARD INFANTRY OFFICER'S SWORD, MODEL 1860, SECOND EMPIRE.
Gilded bronze hilt. The guard is adorned with an "N" under an imperial crown placed on a radiant background with a sparkling Jupiter's lightning bolt. The knuckle bow forms a relief-molded plate of the Grand Imperial Arms, the quillon is decorated with a palmette, the backstrap bears the raised inscription "IMPERIAL GUARD" on a branch of oak and laurel, and it is foldable. The pommel is decorated with the imperial eagle with outstretched wings. The grip is filigreed in silver scales. The counter-guard is punched in an oval "DELACOURT Fr Bté de S.M. L'EMPEREUR A PARIS". The sturdy triangular blade is white, engraved at the ricasso "Manufacture Impériale de Chatellerault / o de la garde / mle 1860", with a length of 79.8 cm and a width at the ricasso of 2.4 cm. Scarlet cloth sword knot. The black varnished leather scabbard has two brass mounts.
Very good state of preservation, changed filigree, scrubbed gilding on the scabbard's chape.
France.
Second Empire.
Reference :
15504