British 1796 HCS pattern blade shape

[Radboud]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

The note on the dates on the heavy cavalry swords:
On underside of the disc: 2D
14
BN30
The top is of course the unit
Next is the year of issue
Next the rack or issue number

Thank you for those details Jim, markings on these swords are still so much of a mystery with many regiments doing their own thing. I hadn’t realised that in some instances dates had been positively identified. Of course in later years they become more uniform and common place, but in this era so much still appears to have been down to the individual regiment.

Re the Austrian 1769, I only remember the model because the date is, ironically, transposed in the 1796.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Radboud

Thank you for those details Jim, markings on these swords are still so much of a mystery with many regiments doing their own thing. I hadn’t realised that in some instances dates had been positively identified. Of course in later years they become more uniform and common place, but in this era so much still appears to have been down to the individual regiment.

Re the Austrian 1769, I only remember the model because the date is, ironically, transposed in the 1796.

You bet Radboud! British regimental markings are indeed a mystery, especially those used in the colonies during the Revolution...the abbreviations are total conundrums and rather than official or standard markings....they used things such as so and so's dragoons, or the same with foot.


Good mnemonics on the Austrian sword date!!!