1796 British heavy cavalry sword

[Tomas]

Hello 

1796 British heavy cavalry sword

Tomas

[Tomas]

2

[Tomas]

3

[Tomas]

4

[Tomas]

5

[Tomas]

6

[Brian Wolfe]

Hi Tomas,

Thanks for posting your sword, one that no doubt that helped forge the British Empire.  Ah, the stories it could tell.

Regards

Brian

 

[aussiesoldier]

The pattern 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sword was the sword used by the British heavy cavalry (Lifeguards, Royal Horse Guards, Dragoon Guards and Dragoons), and King's German Legion Dragoons, through most of the period of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. It played an especially notable role, in the hands of British cavalrymen, at the battles of Salamanca and Waterloo. The pattern was adopted by Sweden and was used by some Portuguese cavalry.

John Le Marchant, who designed the curved 1796 pattern light cavalry sabre, initially intended  that his own sword design should be adopted by all the cavalry; however, this was denied by the decision of the Board of General Officers to arm the heavy cavalry with a straight sword. 

Technically the 1796 heavy cavalry sword was a backsword, that is a sword with a straight blade with one cutting edge and the opposite edge of the blade (the "back") thickened for most of its length to give added strength. The blade was 35 inches (890 mm) in length, with a single broad fuller each side. The grip was of ribbed wood, or wood bound with cord to resemble the same, and covered in leather. 

The sword was often modified by its users. The point was originally a 'hatchet point', a curved diagonal front edge similar to that of the Japanese katana, but most were altered to a symmetrical 'spear point', more common at the time, or alternatively made more acute whilst retaining the asymmetry of the tip. This was done in order to improve the sword's ability to thrust. 

They are a beast of a sword made famous by the Sharpe series where he 'inherits' one from a dying fellow officer. Expensive to buy and not often offered for sale.