Petits Montmorency with Fleur de Lys guard.

Jim McDougall · 27th November 2017, 04:17 AM

Norman,
I just wanted to thank you for posting these pages from the incredibly hard to access Christian Aries sets of material on French swords and the amazing drawings by Michael Petard!

The sword hilts of this early 19th century/Napoleonic period are pretty fascinating, and your example is a most notably designed hilt among the array that apparently existed.

As noted, the slotted guard, (also often 'four slot') which were popular in British swords clearly gained popularity in France. While the French seem to always be leaders in sword hilt designs, it does seem that in these times from c. 1780s into early 1800s, English designs had notable influence on the French.
This same slotted guard was notably part of the most attractive British M1803 infantry/flank company officers sword.

Also, the British 'spadroon' , of which the 'five ball' hilt was one, became popular in France with these orb groupings on the guard, and were termed
l' Anglaise.

The term Montmorency is also notable as this particular cross section blade became quite popular with British sword makers, and it seems that James Wooley used it on his blades from the M1788 patterns, and later with Deakin as his partner, on M1796 type blades.

Interesting cross influences between England and France in these times in their sword designs.

Jim McDougall · 27th November 2017, 05:29 AM

I have been puzzling over the term 'Montmorency' with this sword. As I noted previously, the term Montmorency was one I always noted in collecting British cavalry swords many years back. It was clearly a cross section which had an extra groove along the back of the blade in addition to the hollowed fuller.

I had never really pursued what the 'Montmorency' was for, assuming it was simply the name of someone who invented the form.

In trying to discover more here, all I can find is that this cross section and type of blade was attributed to a Count Cloiseul de Beaune who was of/or commanded a unit called the Montmorency dragoons c. 1710 + It was said these were made at Klingenthal.

This blade style apparently remained obscure until the 1780s, around the time of the French Revolution in 1789.

Apparently this unit was still active in these times, and the blade type, being more effective and stronger attracted attention enough it was used in swords for the 2nd Chasseurs c. 1799, and in use Napoleonic years IX and XI (1801, 1803). By 1822, the blade type became regulation in the M1822 cavalry sabre.

In one entry, it is noted the blade was used by the 'OLD' dragoons Montmorency and the 'Eveche' (1788).

I do not know what 'the Eveche' means, but would really like to know more of this French dragoon unit, and why it is named 'Montmorency', and more on the blade form.

I hope those out there keen on Napoleonic and French patterns might shed some light on this.

Norman, I had never heard of a 'little Montmorency' until now, and clearly there is a lot of history behind this. Thank you again for posting this wonderful example, and the great pages illustrating related examples of these French swords.

Hotspur · 27th November 2017, 06:09 AM

Under the control of (church and state) chasseurs of the bishop

A wiki, I'll take it for expedience

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%A...C3%AAch%C3%A9s

Cheers

GC

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 27th November 2017, 03:46 PM

Please see https://oldswords.com0MODEL%20-%20A%...al%20Taste.pdf /articles/FRENCH%20LIGHT%20CAVALRY%20SWORD%201822%2

where the 1822 model comes under review.

Norman McCormick · 27th November 2017, 06:25 PM

(Le Trente un septembre 1789 les gardes du corps regalèrent les regiments de Flandres dragons de Montmorency gardes nationaux de Versailles et autres)

(Thirty one September 1789 the bodyguards regaled the Regiments of Flanders Dragoons of Montmorency National Guards of Versailles and others)

Jim McDougall · 27th November 2017, 06:55 PM

Thanks guys!
These are great, and now I know it was apparently the commander of this unit who was instrumental in developing this type of blade with key structural potency. What I wonder is why it was not more broadly accepted in the blade producing communities for nearly a hundred years.

The reference I found suggested the originals were fabricated at Klingenthal. I was actually not aware that Klingenthal was even a blade producer of note as early as this.

27th November 2017, 05:29 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Montmorency I have been puzzling over the term 'Montmorency' with this sword. As I noted previously, the term Montmorency was one I always noted in collecting British cavalry swords many years back. It was clearly a cross section which had an extra groove along the back of the blade in addition to the hollowed fuller. I had never really pursued what the 'Montmorency' was for, assuming it was simply the name of someone who invented the form. In trying to discover more here, all I can find is that this cross section and type of blade was attributed to a Count Cloiseul de Beaune who was of/or commanded a unit called the Montmorency dragoons c. 1710 + It was said these were made at Klingenthal. This blade style apparently remained obscure until the 1780s, around the time of the French Revolution in 1789. Apparently this unit was still active in these times, and the blade type, being more effective and stronger attracted attention enough it was used in swords for the 2nd Chasseurs c. 1799, and in use Napoleonic years IX and XI (1801, 1803). By 1822, the blade type became regulation in the M1822 cavalry sabre. In one entry, it is noted the blade was used by the 'OLD' dragoons Montmorency and the 'Eveche' (1788). I do not know what 'the Eveche' means, but would really like to know more of this French dragoon unit, and why it is named 'Montmorency', and more on the blade form. I hope those out there keen on Napoleonic and French patterns might shed some light on this. Norman, I had never heard of a 'little Montmorency' until now, and clearly there is a lot of history behind this. Thank you again for posting this wonderful example, and the great pages illustrating related examples of these French swords.

27th November 2017, 06:25 PM	#5
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,632	(Le Trente un septembre 1789 les gardes du corps regalèrent les regiments de Flandres dragons de Montmorency gardes nationaux de Versailles et autres) (Thirty one September 1789 the bodyguards regaled the Regiments of Flanders Dragoons of Montmorency National Guards of Versailles and others) Attached Images

27th November 2017, 04:17 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Norman, I just wanted to thank you for posting these pages from the incredibly hard to access Christian Aries sets of material on French swords and the amazing drawings by Michael Petard! The sword hilts of this early 19th century/Napoleonic period are pretty fascinating, and your example is a most notably designed hilt among the array that apparently existed. As noted, the slotted guard, (also often 'four slot') which were popular in British swords clearly gained popularity in France. While the French seem to always be leaders in sword hilt designs, it does seem that in these times from c. 1780s into early 1800s, English designs had notable influence on the French. This same slotted guard was notably part of the most attractive British M1803 infantry/flank company officers sword. Also, the British 'spadroon' , of which the 'five ball' hilt was one, became popular in France with these orb groupings on the guard, and were termed l' Anglaise. The term Montmorency is also notable as this particular cross section blade became quite popular with British sword makers, and it seems that James Wooley used it on his blades from the M1788 patterns, and later with Deakin as his partner, on M1796 type blades. Interesting cross influences between England and France in these times in their sword designs.

27th November 2017, 06:09 AM	#3
Hotspur Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Nipmuc USA Posts: 523	Under the control of (church and state) chasseurs of the bishop A wiki, I'll take it for expedience https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%A...C3%AAch%C3%A9s Cheers GC

27th November 2017, 03:46 PM	#4
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Please see https://oldswords.com0MODEL%20-%20A%...al%20Taste.pdf /articles/FRENCH%20LIGHT%20CAVALRY%20SWORD%201822%2 where the 1822 model comes under review.

27th November 2017, 06:55 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Thanks guys! These are great, and now I know it was apparently the commander of this unit who was instrumental in developing this type of blade with key structural potency. What I wonder is why it was not more broadly accepted in the blade producing communities for nearly a hundred years. The reference I found suggested the originals were fabricated at Klingenthal. I was actually not aware that Klingenthal was even a blade producer of note as early as this.