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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 276
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Thank you for the additional photos, at 32.5 inches thats the standard length for the 1796 Pattern LC. So your’s is most certainly a cavalry officers, most likely from the Yeomanry, given the guilding.
Your other sword is the 1803 Pattern ‘Flank Officers’ sword. The flank companies were the Grenadiers and the Light Company that marched on the flank of the regiment. These were seen as the regiments’ elites with the Grenadiers often at the front and in the thick of battle while the Light Company ranged out, scouting ahead and skirmishing with the enemy before full engagement by the regiment. From 1800 the officers of these companies were given permission to carry sabres (a habit they had already acquired) in place of the 1796 Pattern infantry officers sword. Drawing on the ones that were popular in 1803 an official pattern was declared with a lions head pommel and GR cypher for the guard. Lots of variation exists in the grips, with leather and shagrin being most common, but ivory and wire grips are also found. Because the hilt is the pattern, there is a lot of variation in the length and shape of the blade in these. Of course, over time others chose to carry these swords, so it is not impossible that your’s belonged to a high ranking general officer, rather than a ‘Flank officer’. |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: San Diego
Posts: 56
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Great information - Thanks!
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: San Diego
Posts: 56
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Hey Guys: here are photos of two similar sabers in my collection. I purchased them years ago thinking they were Royal Navy. Now I am not so sure...are these Flank Officer swords? Thanks...
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 74
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The bottom one is definitely the 1803 pattern flank officers sabre.
The top one is a non regulation (or possibly regimental pattern) sabre it could be a pre 1803 infantry officer, or a light cavalry dress sabre from between 1796 and 1820ish. It could also be naval or yeomanry from the same period. Without provenance or identifying marks there is no way to tell. Robert |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 276
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Nice sabres SwordLover.
Would it be possible to get a close-up of the markings on the ivory-gripped one? |
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: San Diego
Posts: 56
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Here are close-up photos of the marks on both sides of the blade. No other markings...
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 276
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Thank you for the photos of the curious markings.
It is unusual, but not unheard of to see stamps like these on private purchase swords. Almost like a trooper blade was used. But the profile and length is wrong for a 1796 LC and I can think of no other regulation sabres that the blade could have come from. |
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