*Rare, Original, Napoleonic, English, 1796 Pattern Officers Light Dragoon Sabre & Scabbard*
Original, Napoleonic, English, 1796 Pattern Officers Light Dragoon Sabre & Scabbard. It has the typical curved blade 32″, blued and gilt for 21″, “GR” royal cypher with motto ‘Dieu et mon droi’ (God and My Right), cavalry soldier and trophies etc and is marked “Warranted”; leather covered wire bound grip to the stirrup hilt 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 small ears riveted through the tang of the blade to give the hilt and blade a very secure connection. It comes with the iron scabbard.
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.
Officers carried fighting swords very similar in form to those of the trooper version, though they tended to be lighter and show evidence of higher levels of finish and workmanship. They were also distinguished in the hilt by the grips being wire-wound (silver or gilt copper/brass) and in the backpiece having reduced-size ears. Unlike the officers of the heavy cavalry, light cavalry officers did not have a pattern dress sword. As a result of this there were many swords made which copied elements of the 1796 pattern design but incorporated a high degree of decoration.
*Condition*
This very rare 1796 officers sword is in very good condition commensurate with its age. The blade has some wear to blade finish and one edge nick, but the decorative elements are clear and in good condition. The original leather grip is in amazingly good condition given its age. The scabbard is in good condition with minor pitting and tarnishing. The sword sheathes and draws very well. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
RQMAEOOXB000_2372120802
