Champagne Saber

French Champagne Sabers by Claude Dozorme — The Art of Sabrage, Made in France

There are few gestures in the world of entertaining as theatrical, as joyful and as thoroughly French as the art of sabrage — opening a champagne bottle with a single, sweeping stroke of a saber. Born from Napoleonic military tradition, the practice of sabering a bottle of champagne is said to have been popularised by the officers of Napoleon's cavalry, who celebrated their victories on horseback by striking the neck clean off a bottle with the flat of their sword. Two centuries later, the gesture remains one of the most memorable ways to open a celebration — and at French Connoisseur, we offer the finest instruments with which to perform it.

Our champagne saber collection is crafted exclusively by Claude Dozorme, one of France's most celebrated cutlery makers, based in the legendary knife-making town of Thiers in the Auvergne. For generations, the Dozorme family has applied the full depth of French bladesmithing tradition to the creation of exceptional knives, corkscrews and now champagne sabers — each piece a marriage of precision engineering and artisan craftsmanship that is immediately apparent the moment you hold one. Every saber in the collection is individually finished by hand, with a blade balanced for the clean, controlled single-stroke technique that characterises true sabrage.

The collection features four distinct references, each presented in a beautifully crafted oak display case or wooden stand that makes them as striking to display as they are thrilling to use. The Champagne Saber with Bronze Guild & Rosewood Handle is an entry into the collection that delivers outstanding quality and visual elegance in a more accessible format. For those seeking a truly exceptional object, the Napoleon Champagne Opener with Olive Wood Handle is a masterpiece of French craftsmanship — its handle carved from rich, warm olive wood and mounted on a matching wooden display stand. The Lafayette Champagne Saber with Green Laminated Handle and the Napoleon Champagne Saber with Ney Grip Handle, both presented in substantial oak display boxes, represent the pinnacle of the range — bold, magnificent objects that command attention on any shelf, bar or sideboard.

All four sabers are entirely Made in France by the artisans of Claude Dozorme in Thiers, using the same steels and techniques that have made the Thiers region the undisputed capital of French bladesmithing for over five hundred years. They are not novelty items — they are precision instruments built to perform the technique correctly and safely, time after time, with the kind of flourish that turns the opening of a bottle into a moment that guests will talk about long after the last glass has been poured.

Whether you are an enthusiastic entertainer looking to bring a spectacular new ritual to your celebrations, a collector of fine French cutlery, or in search of the ultimate luxury gift for someone who appreciates craftsmanship and the finer things in life, a Claude Dozorme champagne saber is a purchase without equal.

Shop the full champagne saber collection at French Connoisseur — and make every celebration worthy of a legend.