Sapper Axe From The Imperial Guard First Empire (napoleonic)

This is a sapper axe from the first Imperial Guard, therefore authentically 1st Empire.
The model is perfectly identical to the one described by Christian Aries in his notebooks.
The dimensions of the weapon have nothing to do with those of the axes of sappers of the National Guard, and the Imperial Guard of Napoleon III. The blade of the axe has the characteristic shape of the model, opposite the edge, there is a kind of plate or small anvil which does not yet exist on the axes of the period of the consulate.
The handle is blackened wood. On the iron side of the axe it is closed by a screwed brass plate.
On the opposite side, it is covered by a brass socket which ends in the shape of a little bulb.
The fixing of this brass sleeve to the handle is ensured by a shrinkage of the sleeve made by hammering.
This method of attaching the socket to the handle corresponds to the first models of sapper axes. Thereafter we will mainly find a fixing by a brass or iron nail.
Edge width = 17.5cm Edge-heel height = 32 cm Handle length alone, 87 cm
The sappers of the Imperial guard were created by a decret on the 16 July  1810. Their number was 104 sappers in 1810, then 400 in 1813, and finally rose to 600 men in 1814.
During th ecampaign of Russia in 1812, the sappers were 200 men, and they fighted following the Old Guard.
Dissolved during the first Restoration, the troop of sappers were created again by the Emperor in 1815 during the 100 days, with a workforce of only 200 men.
Ref C-2306