1796 L.C. Officers Sword.

[Richard]

When I was collecting French 1st Empire swords a few years ago, one of the things I always used to look for was denting and damage at the bottom of the scabbard as in the Imperial Guard Chasseur a Cheval scabbard below. All French cavalry swords with brass scabbards sustained this sort of damage where the bottom of the scabbard clashed with the rider's spurs in general or in a melee. It is something that always delineates a genuine example from a forgery.