FRENCH MOD.1884 WARRANT OFFICER STITCHSWORD W/SCABBARD

ORIGINAL AND GENUINE FRENCH 1884 NON-COMMISSIONED OR WARRANT INFANTRY OFFICER'S STITCHSWORD

WITH FINE ENGRAVED ARSENAL'S FIGHTING BLADE AND MATCHING NUMBERS SCABBARD !!

Regular model 1884 Infantry Non-Commissioned or Warrant Officer Sword , this one has a very fine 32,8 Inches long straight edged double grooved blade . At ricasso are Arsenal's inspectors marks ; In each groove is deeply and clearly engraved in Calligraphic letters a sentence as follows =       " Mre d'Armes de Chat.t 8bre 1892 " & " Epée de S.O. Mle 1884 " . ( means " Manufacture d'Armes de Chatellerault 8 Octobre 1892 " and " Epée de sous-Officier modèle 1884 " )

The blade's steel is very good + , some minor spots here and there , but no rust , and still bright . Small dents on edge indicate that this Sword has been carried in battle by the owner in the French end of 19 th Century Colonial theaters of war . This is not a parade blade , but a fighting one .

Double brass guard , one of which can be removed in vertical position , the other wearing the French grenade scutcheon , symbol of the Infantry . The handle is wood with twisted wire , with some lack of material and loose with handle . The brass guard wear the identification arsenal number "6049" and also two inspector's arsenal stamps , a B & C in a circle , and also a S with a star , maybe for French Officers Charles SCHMITT and Charles BUHLER

 The plain brass pommel seems to have been never dismounted . No loose at all beetween handle and blade .

The metal scabbard has overall slight pitting with grey patina that could easily being cleaned . The ring wear the arsenal number " 6049 " and just under the tip two arsenal's inspectors marks B & C in a circle .

No loose beetween scabbard and blade , it fit it quite well

OVERALL SIZE WITH SCABBARD = 40 Inches long