Napoleonic saber-Naval ?

[SwordLover79]

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...

[toaster5sqn]

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

[Radboud]

Nice sabres SwordLover.

Would it be possible to get a close-up of the markings on the ivory-gripped one?

[SwordLover79]

Here are close-up photos of the marks on both sides of the blade. No other markings...

[Radboud]

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.

[SwordLover79]

Perhaps it was made in India as a copy...

[Radboud]

Originally Posted by SwordLover79

Perhaps it was made in India as a copy...

I doubt that. The decoration style is entirely in keeping with the Georgian era, plus the hilt and blade all show ageing. My only thought is that there is a chance that the blade and hilt didn't start life together. If only because I wouldn't expect to see a plain blade on a fancy hilt.

But these things did happen. Maybe an officer wanted a sturdy fighting sword that only needed to look fancy when it was in its scabbard? We must remember that these swords were often very personal to the officer. They could have been a gift or purchased with the thought that one day his life may depend on it.

This is one of mine showing similar decoration to the hilt and langets:

[SwordLover79]

the flame=pattern langets on your sword are very similar to those on mine. Made me think Grenadier or artillery officer...

[Radboud]

Originally Posted by SwordLover79

the flame=pattern langets on your sword are very similar to those on mine.

They’re Acanthus leaf, which is believed to represent long life to the Greeks and Romans. It’s a typical neo-classical motif of that era and not specific to any service branch that I’m aware of.

For it to be a grenadier sabre you’d want to see the flaming bomb emblem.

[SwordLover79]

I was just looking at the antique swords.com site at a blade with similar crown marks. The write-up suggests that the sword he sold (photo attached of the mark on the blade) was most likley a Royal Navy saber/cutlass.