*Napoleonic English 1796 Pattern Light Cavalry Trooper’s Sabre by Osborn of Birmingham*
Napoleonic English 1796 pattern light cavalry trooper’s sabre by Osborn of Birmingham. The blade spine carries the Osborn markings. The ricasso carries the crown cypher acceptance mark. It has a 33 inch blade (83 to 84 cm) and a single broad fuller on each side. The hilt is a simple ‘stirrup’ form with a single iron knucklebow and quillon, the iron backpiece of the grip has ears riveted through the tang of the blade to give the hilt and blade a very secure connection. The grip is of ridged wood covered in leather.
The Pattern 1796 light cavalry sabre is a sword that was used primarily by British light dragoons and hussars, and King’s German Legion light cavalry during the Napoleonic Wars. It was adopted by the Prussians (as the 1811 pattern or “Blücher sabre”) and used by Portuguese and Spanish cavalry. The 1796 sabre had a pronounced curve, making the kind of slashing attacks used in cavalry actions decidedly easier. Even cavalrymen trained to use the thrust, as the French were, in the confusion of a melee often reverted to instinctive hacking, which the 1796 accommodated. Its blade, unlike other European sabres of the period, widened near the point. This affected balance, but made slashes far more brutal; its action in the cut has been compared to a modern bacon slicer. The sabre was lighter and easier to use than its heavy cavalry counterpart, the pattern 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sword, which had a less ‘scientific’ design. The sabre was intended to be usable by all cavalrymen, not solely the largest and strongest.
Henry Osborn was born in 1756, son of John and Elizabeth Osborn of Birmingham. He is first identified as a Sword Cutler in 1785 in Aston. He was a Birmingham based manufacturer who produced a wide variety of military goods. Although best known for his swords, and the Pattern 1796 that he helped design, Osborn(e) was also listed as a Gun maker, silversmith, accouterment maker and hilt maker as well as a sword and dirk cutler.
*Condition*
This original 1796 is in very good condition commensurate with its age. The blade has some pitting and minor chips to the blade. The original leather grip shows signs of wear and tear, as you’d expect from an original sabre; most issued (crown marked) sabres had a long arduous service life. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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