Good notes Richard, and I think what is most unusual are as you say, the lack of British markings, with the same case applying to the absence of American markings. I agree this would not be French, as thier officers indeed were attracted to ostentatious decoration, and it seems the grips were often of darker colored horn rather than ivory.
The truncated ear and langet piece of the crossguard is indeed unusual, and I cannot as yet find a corresponding example, with the exception of the instance of reproduction US Marine Corps sabres I have seen. Obviously this cannot be used for a reference, but it is curious to see the feature on these, and begs the question, why would this particular truncated shape be chosen.
Most of the mameluke style sabres, especially in the perameters of the regulation patterns, both British and American, are fully shaped and with various decoration in the ecusson.
The bulbous quillon terminals on this example we are discussing seem very much like the Prosser example you show, and most of the other examples are acorn or more classical shapes.
The British dress regulations of 1822 I believe were specifically directed toward lancer officers , who had apparantly already been wearing versions of these mameluke sabres since 1816. Robson ("Swords of the British Army" p.69) notes that officers of light dragoons (forerunners of lancer regiments) had been wearing these since as early as 1805. Also noted are comments by British general Mercer, "...generals and our field officers seemed to wear what they pleased and after the Egyptian campaign (1801) the mameluke sabre was quite the rage".
While it is hard to make out through the pitting, it seems that perhaps within this military motif on the blade are crossed lances? which are noted as having been seen on the lancer officer blades. If in these early, pre regulation times, these swords had become a popular 'rage' in England as well as in the U.S., it seems feasible that a rather generic, military themed sabre, might have been produced in Solingen which might have been marketed to officers of either country. The period in which we agree this sabre seems provenanced was notably in times of geopolitical strife, and with the major powers interested in these form sabres all being at some sort of odds, this might have been prudent.
All best regards,
Jim
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