196 - Rare saber of a junior officer in the Imperial Guard’s Mounted Chasseurs:

Rare saber of a junior officer in the Imperial Guard’s Mounted Chasseurs: A single-branch guard made of chiseled and gilded brass; front guard adorned with the head of a deity, possibly Minerva; quillon curved downward, terminating in a leaf-shaped finial; long-tailed pommel with a lion’s head, a finial around the tang; filigree ebony hilt. Curved blade with a reed-shaped spine ending in a counter-edge, carp-tongue tip, engraved, gilded, and blued one-third of the way up, decorated with trophies, foliage, and a crowned eagle in an oval medallion on each side; back marked: “Horseback Hunter of the Imperial Guard.” Gilded brass scabbard with two chiseled ring-style clasps featuring cascading piastres and surrounded by spiderwebs; between the two bands, a hexagon bears a crowned eagle in high relief; lower section engraved with a fleur-de-lis and foliage; cut-out iron blade (worn). Length 103.5 cm. This saber has seen a lot of action; it must have been in service throughout the entire Empire. The blade has sustained a minor impact; the scabbard is heavily worn and has lost most of its gilding; there are a few dents on the lower part; the top ring bears an old collectible brass disc marked with the number “10.” The blade has retained some of its original bluing. Early Empire period. Fairly good condition.