new question about Napoleon period swords

by Excalibur

QUESTION: Were these swords subjected to thermal treatment? I ask because I have found some places (for example "Swordblood") where they offer swords from that period for close to US$ 300. They say "carbon steel", but they say nothing about thermal treatment. Or, at that time, this kind of treatment was not applied to massive production in the West? Congratulations again for your excellent web site. Excalibur.

ANSWER: Even mass produced military swords had 'some' heat treatment, though only officers swords and those of 'quality' had much attention paid to the way they were heat treated.

We are probably spoiled these days, even some of the worst swords around often have better heat treatment that those of the actual period they were used in. ;-)

Best,

- Paul