Sabre Of Senior Officer Of Cavalry With Battle Guard

This beautiful Dragoon officer's sabre is very unusual. It was a private order from an officer, probably a senior officer, from the Coulaux Company in Klingenthal, around 1880, therefore under the Third Republic.
The so-called "battle hilt" mounts, whose origins date back to the last quarter of the 18th century, were very popular among cavalry officers, but also in the Gendarmerie. They were worn during the Empire, the Restoration, under Louis-Philippe and gradually disappeared during the second half of the 19th century. Here, the entire mount is the result of an assumed tradition, since the scabbard itself, instead of choosing steel as on other battle hilt models of the Second Empire, is made of wood covered with leather, with however metal parts made of steel and brass, instead of the models made of brass during previous eras. This gives this beautiful sabre an archaic appearance mixed with modernity.
BLADE: This is the cavalry officer's blade model 1882, identical to the regulation model made in Chatellerault. It has a flat back, and has on each side a wide flat-bottomed fuller. The last 15 cm near the tip have a counter-edge. On the back, near the guard, we find the inscription "Coulaux & Cie Klingenthal, France" This marking places us around 1880. It corresponds to private manufacturing by the Coulaux company. Indeed, Alsace being occupied, the Coulaux company had to produce sabers for the German army, and no longer for the French army, but productions intended for sale were authorized. The term "France", added after "Klingenthal" being according to some Alsatian historians a small pike against the occupier. Traces of oxidation on the entire blade.
Blade length = 87.2 cm, width near the guard = 2.7 cm, thickness near the guard 8.8 mm The original thick red tie is present and in good condition.
GUARD: This is the traditional palmette battle guard and 4 secondary branches connected to the knuckle bow which joins the cap. Small flat quillon curved towards the blade. It is made of very pale brass, characteristic of the period
CAP : it is faceted and short-tailed, in the purest tradition of this type of mount. It is topped with a flattened diamond-shaped section on which the tang of the blade is riveted. On the upper side of the cap, we can read the monogram of the intertwined letters "AD", which are obviously the initials of the officer.
GRIP : it is made of brown horn as for  the regulation sabers of senior officers of the time, with brass  wire binding,
 SCABBARD: wood, covered with glued sheepskin with a simulated seam (the holes of the sewing needle are present, but there is no thread)
The mouth piece, the intermediate piece and the chaper are made of  steel with brass mid lockets and suspension  rings, andand a brass drag.

In summary, this weapon is a unique piece inspired by the models from 1780 and the Empire, it was made at the request of a dragoon officer around 1880 by the Coulaux company, in occupied Alsace. It is a historical testimony.
Shipping costs France 30€, Europe 40€
Ref DX3Y- 2460