Coulaux & Cie., 1838 – 1962

The Coulaux family, or Coulaux & Cie (“& Cie.” is the equivalent to “& Company” in English) purchased the royal forge and swordmaking facilities of Klingenthal, France in 1838. Prior to sale, however, they were the facility’s operators from 1801-1836. They were blademakers, fourbisseurs (cutlers) and military sword manufacturers. The production of fencing blades and weapons began in 1850, and the Coulaux operators also exported their fencing blades to fourbisseurs and fencing supply houses such as Castello Fencing Equipment Co. of the United States and Souzy de Lacam of France. Ultimately a tumultuous era of occupations, liberations and World Wars suppressed the manufacturing down to only a dozen workers in 1955, mainly producing forged sickles and civilian tools. The forge hammers of Klingenthal eventually fell silent on February 1^st, 1962.

Coulaux & Cie. Sword Mark

Fencing weapons (not including military weapons) bearing the “Coulaux & Cie” mark or the “Klingenthal” mark were manufactured in Klingenthal, France under the Coulaux family owners, and only after 1850 when fencing blades and swords were added to the catalog in an effort to diversify the forge production. However, not all complete swords were assembled by Coulaux & Cie., as the Coulaux forge sold unmounted blades to firms like Castello Fencing Equipment Company in the United States, and Souzy in Paris. Coulaux & Cie marks on fencing blades may be in block, imprinted letters, or in acid-etched cursive script (particularly on epee blades). Sometimes a small crown also adorns Coulaux blades. The Coulaux-run Klingenthal forge shut down and fell silent on February 1st, 1962 after forging fencing sword blades for 112 years.