A Very Good French Sword Sidearm, Made by Talabot Fs {Brothers} of Paris, Modelled on the Roman Gladius

French Model 1831 Foot Artillery Short Sword. Double edged blade. Maker marked proved, "Talbot Fs Paris, 1832". Proof marked. Brass hilt with N proof mark and serial number 2343 to crossguard.
A very good 19th C French artillery gladius type sword with 19 inch blade .

This pattern of gladius is named after its direct original version, the ancient Roman sword used by the Roman Empire for hundreds of years, however this gladius was made and used in France from the 1830's till the 1850's up to the Crimean war against Russia.

After the war many French gladius were sold in the early 1860's to the USA in order to supply their desperate need for arms for the Civil War. The US in fact found this pattern sword so effective it was directly copied by America. They copied their French gladius sword, and made their own slightly different version, with an Eagle decorated pommel for use by the US foot. Talabot Freres were Parisien arms makers.

This form of stout sword was incredibly efficient at close quarter combat, in fact the Romans discovered so and used it for centuries, and it's power and effectiveness, when used by well trained legionaries and gladiators, was never bettered for almost 2000 years.This very French sword type appears, and is illustrated, in 'American Swords and Maker's Marks' by Clegg Donald Furr, as the US Civil War imported short sword. In fact many are still unaware it is a French made sword, as it has been quite wrongly frequently attributed as an American sword, by some, for many decades. We show this sword in totally 'sleeper' condition as it has remained untouched for likely over 100 years. With original scabbard, old leather repair at the base of the scabbard.

Code: 25060