Hi Glen,
It is always a learning experience in these discussions with you, and you are certainly inspiring me to try to do my 'homework' here
It really is great to touch base on these American swords once again after a very long hiatus, but quite honestly I think I'm learning more in the last couple of days than I ever accomplished back then.
I did not know of the detail on the first mameluke sabres being a British contract (was this the 1825 regulation?) but not surprising as I know some of the famed 'eaglehead swords' were produced there, with American made versions known as Baltimore and Philadelphia 'schools'.
I think it is important to note here that I am not suggesting that the French were prevalent in the supply of swords to America against the well known products of England and Solingen you note. I am however noting what I consider significant influence of French swords and styles in American military swords . Returning to Peterson (p.59), he notes while some of the swords for officers were made by makers such as Starr and Rose, the great majority of blades and large numbers of entire swords were made by Solingen makers as well as some from "...France, Great Britain and Belgium". These were apparantly largely mounted or furbished as required and by c.1830 the major outfitters of Horstmann of Philadephia and Schuyler, Hartley & Graham of New York were prominantly known. Some of the eaglehead swords of c.1830s by Widmann of Philadephia (Peterson, p.115) have marks of the German swordsmith on the blade, along with 'warranted' (interestly a word often used on British blades decades before). It is noted that some of these Widmann type swords also are seen with Horstmann stamps on blades.
Peterson #98 (p.107), a mounted artillery officers sabre c.1815-30 is described as a "distinctly French sabre", and that these sabers were made in France in accordance with the latest modes there. The one shown has American devices and motif on the blade, apparantly contrary to the larger number of these typically known.
With #93 (p.102,Peterson) this is an eaglehead with a bust of Washington in cartouche, and described as made in France c.1800 (Washington died 1799) or shortly after.
#63, (pp.69-70) describing a field officers sword of c.1800-10, Peterson notes "...during the first decade of the 19th century many of the higher ranking American officers purchased swords typified by the saber illustrated herewith. These saers were made in France in what the Continental taste of the period considered the very best tradition. These swords were made especially for the American market and usually possessed an eaglehead pommel and decorations utilizing American motif".
Again, these references from Peterson are simply the basis of my opinion which considers that French swords were significant in the influence of American sword styles from the end of the Revolution, through the Federal Period and as noted, through the 19th century. The influences of both German and English swords cannot be discounted obviously, nor can thier participation in actual production of blades and entire weapons, so it seems counterproductive to try to assess which offered more influence or actual production. The styles favored by makers such as Rose and Starr are agreed, not particularly relevant as they primarily were producing contract swords for enlisted ranks in number, and thier 'style' may be considered loosely 'European' but loosely similar to various forms of the period and slightly earlier. It seems most of the focus here is on officers swords, which as previously noted here were of different status, and more inclined to fashionable styles for which France was much admired and very much along with its closeness in its alliance with America in the war.
The pair of vertically fluted ebony swords you show here are outstanding! and actually remind me of a brass hilt example of one of these I have (Mark Eley has one as well). In these they are brass 'birds head' pommel with the fluted ebony grip and curved 'montmorency' type blade with centerpoint fuller (mine by Wooley & Deakin, his may be as well). Something I noticed some time ago with Wooley M1788 light cavalry sabers as opposed to Thomas Gill's..the hilt features on Wooley's seem to favor French influence (rounded pommel cap, elliptical langets, montmorency blade) while Gill's seem to favor German...elongated rectangular langets, flattened pommel cap, hollow ground blade. It is truly interesting to see this type of ebony grip sword with the curved blade and spadroon blade together.
While I'm not sure this discussion has put us any closer to identifying David's sabre, I think it is good to have set out some criteria as far as whether it is Napoleonic French, or whether the initial assumption of American might have had merit. I hope we can continue to seek a comparable example with more definitive likenesses, but the example David posted remains to me compelling.
Best regards,
Jim