British Blades 4
Numbers 11 to 17 illustrate a fourth example of a British Klingenthal blade. However, in this instance, it is a French First Empire sabre that has been re-bladed rather than a British sword. This sabre is that of a senior officer of the Imperial Carabiniers made during the 100 days between Napoleon’s return from exile in March 1815 following his first abdication and his defeat at Waterloo in June 1815. The outer guard of the hilt is in the form of an Imperial crown but has
been adapted for use by a British officer by the removal of Napoleonic devices: Imperial orb at the top of the crown, Carabiniers’ flaming grenade in the centre and monogram ‘N’ below the crown (No. 14).
The blade (Nos. 15-17) is made of (most likely imitation) Damascus (or wootz) steel and is 32½in long x 1½in wide, curved with a clipped back point. It is marked ‘Klingenthal’ along the back edge and has panels of etched decoration both sides, highlighted with gilt, which include the GR cypher of
George III (nearside) and British 180116 Royal Arms (offside).
The blade also bears the initials ‘CF’ in cursive script on the nearside ricasso (No. 16). These initials are thought to represent the Coulaux Frères, the entrepreneurs at Klingenthal at the time the blade was made (c. 1815-18). The offside ricasso however (No. 17) contains the unusual and somewhat unexpected marking ‘Tatham Et Egg’. It can only be assumed that the French blade decorator was given a British blade to copy and copied not only the Royal iconography but also the maker’s name (although that does not explain the use of ‘Et’ rather than ‘and’). British makers Henry Tatham and Joseph Egg were in partnership from 1801 to 1814.