Second Empire under Napoleon III. Brass hilt decorated with foliage and the bee hive on arrows. The guard with a cock on flag splay. Folding side guard functional but lacks the spring ball as typical. 32 ½” diamond section blade struck with bee hive mark at the forte. France was at peace until the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. Swords of retired officers were actively marketed to southern brokers who shipped them through the blockades for purchase by Confederate officers.
