Item #69564 : Original period manufacture. Standard French Infantry officers sword, which served as the inspiration for our US M1855 Foot Officers Sword. Triple etched 30 inch steel blade with a central fuller which runs from the ricasso to the point. Floral etching on both sides with a central panel of a stand of colors. The blade is bright with a pleasing finish, scattered nail catchers along the edge. Brown leather bumper at the base of the blade, likely an old replacement. Nice old patina finish to the brass guard and pommel with a floral design. Intact leather wrapped grip which is bound with thin twisted copper wire. I believe the grip was re-wrapped at some point in the past, nothing recent, but repaired nonetheless. Neat period engraving on the top of the pommel, H.H.Clapp to R.P.Gardner April 22nd 1861 Buffalo N.Y.. Robert P. (Patterson) Gardner 1833-1890, enlisted as a Captain in the 21st New York Infantry, wounded at Antietam, discharged for wounds, and re-enlisted in the Veterans Reserve Corps in 1864. This is a great old sword with a lot of soul, no scabbard.