This is a French Model 1821 Light Cavalry Officer’s Sabre (sabre de cavalerie légère modèle 1821).
Key Identifying Features:
Brass hilt with floral and laurel motifs – common decoration on French officer sabres.
Three-bar guard (in this case with ornate detailing) leading to a simple knucklebow.
Sharkskin (ray skin) grip with wire wrap – though worn, still visible.
Single fullered, curved blade – a hallmark of the M1821 pattern.
Inspection stamps at the ricasso (looks like a crowned letter, likely a French arsenal poinçon).
The number “71” on the guard is probably an assembly or rack number, not a year.
History:
The Model 1821 was adopted for French light cavalry and widely used throughout the 19th century, including in colonial campaigns. Officers often purchased their own swords, which led to variations in decoration and weight. Many were exported, influencing cavalry sabres in other European countries and even the U.S.