British sabre with ivory grip

[Bryce]

G'day Ulrik,

To add to what Jim has posted, most of these stirrup-hilted lion head swords predate the 1803 pattern infantry officer sword. I have one with a horn grip which is dated 1799. Ivory gripped examples like yours were favoured by militia and volunteer regiment officers whose swords tended to be a little fancier than their regular army cousins.

Below is a photo of Thomas Gill's full warranted spiel on a 1796 light cavalry officer's sabre.

Cheers,
Bryce