French 2nd and 3rd Empire Napoleonic enlisted man's armor of Carabinier Regiment of Napoleon III. Helmet of the cuirassier regiment M 1848.

French 2nd and 3rd Empire Napoleonic enlisted man's Helmet M 1848 and Carabinier for a mounted infantry trooper circa 1820-1870's As the name implies these troops were equipped with short, smooth bore, carbine muskets. The breast and back plate, incorporates the crest of the 2nd Empire, comprising a stamped. steel, star burst design surmounted by a brass badge depicting the French Eagle clutching a bundle of lightening bolts and surrounded on the right by laurel leaves, and oak leaves to the left. The inside lower skirt of this Cuirass is marked with the name and date of the manufacturer, as well as other unknown identifiers and an inspector's proof mark. The back plate is also manufacturer marked and dated, and displays similar unknown identifiers as the breast plate. Both the breast and back plates are marked with the Arsenal manufacturer of "Klingentha.l" The breast plate is dated April, 1834 and the back plate is also marked "Klingenthal", dated April, 1834. Being that both pieces are dated the same, it is assumed that this set has always been together (many sets would be mismatched by the armorer doing the pairing). Normally if one size matched the other they would be paired and sold as is, many of them being paired with other arsenal manufacturers and dates, unlike this example. Also accompanying this Cuirass is the proper, matching, plumed helmet of an enlisted Carabiner. Although the helmet is of a slightly later date than that of the Cuirass, it is proper for a set for a mounted Enlisted Infantryman's Model of 1848. The breast and back plate of this Cuirass is made of steel surmounted by riveted brass over plates. The double rowed brass chain and leather shoulder straps, connect both the front and back plates and are in original condition (the leather of which having separated from the back plates brass fastening rivets due to age). The brass retaining buckles which hold the shoulder straps and back plate to the breast plate have some damage to the right locking buckle (this buckle cracked from repeated donning and doffing). The left side buckle is intact and without damage. The leather waist belts are riveted to the bottom front corners of the back plate. This is a very impressive set of upper torso armor. This set includes it's proper Model 1845 helmet. This helmet has a polished steel dome, with some spotting, with front visor and neck guard, both being brass trimmed. Although normally dated on the rear, the date is unknown at this time due to the bear skin cover obscuring where it would normally be located. Trying to check this date could compromise the bear skin cover, therefore it will not be noted and left as is. The chin scales are attached to star burst rosettes which are black leather backed. The helmet crest is dyed, red, horse hair with black horse hair "tail". The ornate brass cimier is decorated with beaded floral volutes, a flaming bomb, with a medusa head finial. The turban is made from bear hide showing patches of missing fur due to age. The left side is complete with a brass plume holder with a feathered crimson plume. The helmet lining is missing.

Weight (Lbs): 37
Height (In.): 43
Width (In.): 20
Depth (In.): 17
Size: 148.5 x 4.0 x 4.0"
Maker: France (Klingenthal)
Material: Steel & Brass
Date: 1834
Provenance: N/A
Condition: Breast and back plates show some spotting to the polished steel. Some age patina found upon the steel star burst Napoleonic crest on front chest plate. Leather waist belt straps are missing due to age. Shoulder strap leather separated from retaining rivets due to age. Bent chain loop at left fastener. Helmet is a Model 1840 and made of polished steel with brass trim and circumvented with bear skin. Chin scales are leather and double brass chain. All other accoutrements are made from brass. Helmet is complete with red dyed feather plum and horse hair. The leather liner is missing.
History: Carabiniers were first introduced during the Napoleonic wars in Europe. The word is derived from the identical French word carabinier. A carabinier (also sometimes spelled carabineer or carbineer) is in principle a soldier armed with a carbine. A carbine is a shorter version of a musket or rifle. Historically, carabiniers were generally (but not always) horse soldiers. The carbine was considered a more appropriate firearm for a horseman than a full-length musket, since it was lighter and easier to handle while on horseback. Light infantry sometimes carried carbines because they are less encumbering when moving rapidly, especially through vegetation, but in most armies the tendency was to equip light infantry with longer-range weapons such as rifles rather than shorter-range weapons such as carbines. In Italy and Spain, carbines were considered suitable equipment for soldiers with policing roles, so the term carabinier evolved to sometimes denote gendarmes and border guards