Translating engraving on sword found in Germary 1944

[Caniac1995]

My uncle found a sword in an abandoned house in Germany in 1944 and brought it home to the U.S. with him. He told his daughter the sword was from an earlier French War but I'm not sure. Could someone point me in the right direction in translating this engraving. Thank you so much.

[still_looking]

The inscription states where the sword was made and when.
Manufacture Nationale at Châtellerault in March 1872

Link below gives more details including other small stamped marks that may be present.
https://web.archive.org/web/20210421102505/http://users.skynet.be/euro-swords/chatellerault.htm

S_L

[Caniac1995]

Thank you so very much!