AMERICAN AKD EUROPEAN SWORDS 133 



divides into two branches that unite at the blade and terminate 

 above in a quillon with a globular end. This saber was lent to the 

 National Museum in 1919 by Louis J. Garesche. 



CAVALRY SABERS WITH STRAIGHT BLADES 



The series of French cavalry sabers with straight blades begins 

 with a weapon *^ made in 1814. It has a long straight blade with 

 two deep wide grooves on each side and a very broad back inscribed 

 " Mfture Imp. du Klingenthal, Janvier, 1814." The grip is covered 

 with russet leather and wound with steel wire. The pommel is 

 covered with a plain brass cylindrical cap. The guard, which is 

 marked " Versailles," is formed of a heavy plain brass strip with 

 three curved branches of the same type. The scabbard is a plain 

 brass piece with two rings. This saber belongs to the Alfred F. 

 Hopkins collection. The Military Service Institution collection 

 includes two light cavalry sabers *^ of the same general type, also 

 with straight blades, made, respectively, in 1883 and 1888. The 

 latter bear on each side of the blade a deep rectangular groove. 



STAFF OFFICER'S SABER OF 1860 



The French sabers with straight blades include also a fine example 

 of the staff officer's saber of the Second Empire. This weapon *^ 

 has a long, straight, 2-edged blade bearing on each side a broad and 

 deep central groove bisected by a high, narrow, central ridge. The 

 back is engraved in script, " Mare, Impale, de Chat. 1860 Etat Major 

 Mle. 1855." The grip is made of hardwood stained black and wound 

 in deep grooves with 14 turns of gilt wire. The pommel, which is of 

 Phrygian-helmet shape, is decorated in relief with two sprays of 

 laurel leaves united by a daisy, the whole inclosing an ornate shield 

 with an oval center. The guard consists of a heavy brass strip 

 terminating in plain oval quillons. Three circular branches on 

 the obverse side unite the quillons and support a large oval bronze 

 shield bearing the Imperial arms on a background of black enamel, 

 encircled by a wreath of laurel. 



SABER OWNED BY MAJ. JOHN A. HALDERMAN 



A French officer's sword of much interest with a straight blade 

 is one *^ carried during the Civil War by the well-known American 

 military officer and diplomat, Maj. John A. Halderman. The blade 

 is long and stiaight with a deep triple groove on each side. The 

 reverse side is inscribed in script : " Mre. Impale, de Chat. Obre. 



"Length, 111 cm. Blade, 96 cm. long, 3.5 cm. wide. PI. 39, flg. 6. 

 « Length, 102 cm. Blade, 87 cm. long, 3 cm. wide. PI. 39, flg. 4. 

 " Length, HO cm. Blade, 95 cm. long, 3.3 cm. wide. PI. 39, fig. 5. 

 «» Length. 100.5 cm. Blade, 86 cm. long, 3 cm. wide. 



