From what I have understood on these somewhat renditions of the basic hilts for officers of these flank companies from the 1790s into early 19th c. the military fashions of the time as well as personal flamboyance played a large role in these swords.
By analogy pertaining to the near obsession with military fashion and status, I think of the famed 'dandy' Beau Brummel, who was for a time with a cavalry regiment, and known for his preening and flamboyant dress.
As noted, these flank companies were the elite units of infantry regiments, and officers, characteristically of high station already in civilian life, were somewhat competitive and keenly aware of a certain 'swagger' in their fashion. This of course most certainly applied to their most notable element in that, the sword they wore.
The commanding officers of regiments in effect 'owned' them, and supplied the ranks with weaponry, with munitions grade swords typically following standard forms (even though 'regulation' was not until 1796). These swords were 'issued' while the officers were allowed a degree of carte blanche.
They were expected to adhere somewhat to the basic standard in form of the swords in use, but variations in decoration and elements were of course rather inevitable.
With the example we are discussing, it does seem as noted to be composite and of course the blade is other than standard in these forms. As only the officers of the flank companies were permitted sabers, it stands to reason they would take their elite status a step or two further, and go to excess in the blade. The 'hussar phenomenon' of European military fashion of the times relied heavily on the dashing sabers and pronounced curve which gave the officer formidable presence as a deadly swordsman.
These blades might have been heirloom or trophy, or simply acquired from other sources, but it was the curve that gave the 'swagger'.
With the 1803 examples of infantry officers saber, I once had one which had a lion head but instead of flowing mane, it was designed with the headdress of the sphinx, clearly signifying the campaigns in Egypt. This was apparently yet another example of rather subtle carte blanche in the hilt decoration, but possible a regimental design signifying battle honors from those campaigns.
With the 10th Hussars, again by analogy, the Prince of Wales Own, called 'the Princes Dolls' colloquially, and he was designing his own sabers for his officers, eventually having the rare 1809 stirrup hilt with POW feathers on langet.
The hilt elements on the OP example might be from naval sword. The blade could be from an Indian sword, as officers in India indeed often mixed and matched British hilts and Indian blades and vice versa. The guard resembles those I earlier noted from the Scottish regiments, as well as the ivory grip.
As Greg has said, this attractive example saber clearly has its secrets, and we wish it could talk, but the discussion on the context of the times from which it came offers a colorful context of those times and military fashion then.
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