Hello Jim & European pattern enthusiasts -
I recently acquired two swords out of an area estate, including this cavalry saber (the other being a Shinshinto-period katana). The (late) previous owner had labeled this as an "imported Civil War cavalry saber." At first glance, the blade does appears to be a close dimensional match to the 1860 pattern U.S. cavalry saber - 41 inch OAL, 36+ inch blade, 1 inch wide at the hilt, false edge running back approx. 7 inches from the tip, wide fuller beginning at the ricasso and running to the beginning of the false edge, a second narrow fuller beginning approx. 7 inches from the hilt and ending +/- 2 inches before the false edge...
However, there are also several distinctions (e.g., the backstrap) that set it apart from the 1860P. While there were many imported cavalry sabers brought in in 1861-62, I know there were also
many 19th Century variants of French cavalry & curassier sabers, and would think this likely to be one of them... yet it does not match any examples I have in my limited reference materials.
Other details: the blade is etched on the spine to Coulaux / Kligenthal. The center-swell grip is of wire-wrapped horn, and as shown in the photos below, the guard is stamped with "Co. LeFleur" over "Paris."
Anyway, dimensions and details side, as the old adage states, "a picture is worth a thousand words." So here's 6,000 words' worth of pictures.
As always, thank (all of) you in advance for any assistance you might provide...