French Royal Heavy Cavalry Sword – Universal Swords

After Napoleons exile to Elba, the French monarchy was reformed, though as a Constitutional Monarchy, not the Absolute monarchy it once was. Though the restored Bourbon monarchy had lost its monopoly on power, Louis XVIII sought to recreate the grandeur and trappings that the monarchy had enjoyed. He reinstated many of the Royal military units that had disappeared since the Revolution and they were equipped both with titles and weapons in homage to their predecessors. This royal restoration would be interrupted, for Napoleon would return, forcing Louis into a brief exile until Napoleon was finally, truly defeated.

This recreated French Royal Cavalry Sword is one such example – a sword with the finely detailed hilt that royal regiments enjoyed. It has the long straight blade favored by heavy cavalry – a sword that could be used like a lance in the charge. The spine of the blade bears the dated 1814 signature of the Klingenthal manufactory – the favored swordmaker of France during both the Monarchy and the Napoleonic Empire. The base of the blade is stamped with period production and inspection markings.

The unsharpened blade is crafted from tempered high carbon steel and the elaborate hilt is of cast brass with a blackened cross design on the swept hilt guard. The grip is covered in tight black leather and is overlaid with spiralled brass wire. The wood-core scabbard is overlaid with black leather and has brass accents with brass hanging rings.