Napoleon's battle sword up for sale

[stonecutter]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070609/ap_on_re_eu/napoleon_s_sword

Napoleon's battle sword up for auction
By MARCO CHOWN OVED, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 57 minutes ago
FONTAINEBLEAU, France - After more than 200 years in the family, the gold-encrusted sword Napoleon carried into battle in Italy will be auctioned off Sunday, across the street from one of his imperial castles.

ADVERTISEMENT

The intricately decorated blade is 32 inches long and curves gently — an inspiration Napoleon drew from his Egyptian campaign, auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat said.

"He noticed that the Arab swords, which were curved, were very effective in cutting off French heads" and ordered an imitation made upon his return, Osenat explained.

The last of Napoleon's swords in private hands, it has an estimated value of at least $1.6 million, according to the Osenat auction house managing the sale.

Declared a national treasure in 1978, the sword still can be sold to a foreign buyer, but the owner must have an address in France and keep the weapon in France five to six months of the year, said Jean-Christophe Chataignier, an imperial expert at Osenat.

The sword was worn by Napoleon — who was not yet emperor at the time — into the battle of Marengo in June 1800, where he launched a surprise attack to push the Austrian army from Italy and seal France's victory, Chataignier said.

After the battle, Napoleon gave the sword to his brother as a wedding present, and it was passed down through the generations, never leaving the family, according to the auction house.

Today the sword is owned by eight direct descendants of Napoleon, including Prince Victor Napoleon, Chataignier said. The auction house will hold the auction in view of Fontainebleau castle south of Paris, constructed by Napoleon as a quiet retreat.

Strong enough for battle, the sword is uncommonly ornate, with geometric designs in gold covering the hilt and most of the blade.

"It's at the same time a weapon of war and a very beautiful work of art," Osenat said.

"It symbolizes more than anything else the power, the force and the incontestable strength of the Emperor Napoleon," Osenat said as he handled the sword. He wore white gloves to protect its steel and gold surfaces.

[gaijinsamurai]

Thanks, Stonecutter.
Interestingly, one of the best collections of Napoleonic memorabilia resides in Havana, Cuba.
Included are the bed in which Napoleon died, and the personal arms of many of his marshalls. The collection was owned by a wealthy Italian-Cuban, who fled in 1959. The Cuban Government has opened the house containing the collection, and runs it as a museum. I had the priveledge of viewing it about five years ago.

[mas-36]

I just heard on the news that the sword has been sold for over 6.5 million US dollars! Anyone else hear about this?

[Freibier]

I was outbid pretty early.
My limit was 100€

p-)

[Bryson C]

I just heard on the news that the sword has been sold for over 6.5 million US dollars! Anyone else hear about this?

Napoleon sword sells for millions:
A gold-encrusted sword used by Napoleon has been sold at auction in France for 4.8m euros (£3.3m; $6.5m).




Auctioneers said the sword, used in battle some 200 years ago, achieved a world record for Napoleon memorabilia.
The sword, which belonged to eight of the emperor's descendants, was believed to be the last of Napoleon's blades in private hands. The intricately decorated blade is just under 100cm (40in) in length and has a distinctive gentle curve...


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6737909.stm

[Luno]

Hmmm from the BBC link

The sword's curved shape made it more effective at beheading.I am no sword expert but is that really one of the reason why the sword is curved?
how come a curved Sword is better cutting of people heads then a straight

[Pidyon Shevuyim]

Hmmm from the BBC link
I am no sword expert but is that really one of the reason why the sword is curved?
how come a curved Sword is better cutting of people heads then a straight

Just added to spice up the article.

[stonecutter]

Hmmm from the BBC link
I am no sword expert but is that really one of the reason why the sword is curved?
how come a curved Sword is better cutting of people heads then a straight

I know that during the Crusades, when two opponents charged each other on horseback, the curved swords of the Muslims would arc out of their enemy's body as the horses kept going in opposite directions, whereas the knights' straight swords would sometimes get wrenched out of their hands. This is why European cavalry swords adopted a curve thereafter.
As for beheading, perhaps a curved blade is better for the same reason that the guillotine blade isn't straight across, but at an angle?

[Bohemoth]

It was sold for more than US$6.4mio. and remains in the extensive family of Napoleon. As it's declared a national treasure so it must stay in France for at least month per year.

...but who gives a dang.

[BugHunt]

Curved blade allows more distance to the swing hence more energy/damage in the blow....

Checkout Mike Loads excellent series "weapons that made britain" the Sword episode. In which he tested various swords from history in the lab...

A curved middle eastern sword managed to hit with comparable power, in the slash, to a straight edged crusader sword - despite the straight sword being heavier and larger....

Not sure id have believed it until i saw the actual lab test! Its almost a bit counter intuitive.

BUT when men were actually using them to hack each other apart there was often a evolution in sword design to give "the deadliest" (with trade offs between weight, hitting power, length and durability).

Curves often won out as a "advanced design"... Scimitars, Katannas, Cutlasses, Cavalry sabers.


Might not be as pleasing asthetically - but they tend to lop bits off more effectively.....being light and hard hitting.

[Limeyfellow]

This picture shows some of the details much better. It is a beautiful sword.

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/06/11/sword_wideweb__470x312,0.jpg

As for the curved sword. There was two lines of thought. A curved lighter blade or as we call it today the sabre and a heavier straight blade. The second was famous for its thrusts, almost used as a lance at times. This method though fell out of practice at the end of the 18th century. The other main move was a cutting blow full on with a heavy blade, similar to how an axe would be used. Now if you go with a lighter sword thats more usable that can be ripped out the hand since you are trying to hack someone in two with the thing.

This was replaced by the Sabre with a lighter sword, its main advantage was at slashing and drawn across the body. It was considered quite contoversial in the British army at the time, especially as the old thrust and chop mentality was being replaced out and the sabre was not so good at that. The Sabre biggest advantage though is from the lack of armour being worn on the battlefield at that time. It creates nasty injuries against unarmoured soldiers and is a progression of warfare bought about by light portable firearms.

Well at least thats how it was in Britain and Austria and Spain. I couldn't imagine it be much difference in France.