Pre Culloden English dragoon basket hilt?

[urbanspaceman]

Hi Jim. I was mistaken... Matt was talking about a transition in the Victorian period when basket hilt and sabre were the same fighting technique, so concessions were made to facilitate the sabre style grip with a basket hilt which meant opening up the side bars.
Obviously this doesn't apply to your sword.
You might have look at hilt development over the period to see how the side bars developed as yours do seem wider.