Hello Simon,
Can you see where the cross guard joins the knuckleguard? On the hilt of your sword this appears to be bent to this shape very similar to many swords that I have seen from the German states. On a British P1796 officer's sword this junction is almost at right angles and has a re-enforcing piece. On a troopers' sword this junction is the same without the re-enforcing piece. If you look at the hilt on your Dawes sword you will see what I mean.
The ferrule and thereby the grip are also much too narrow.
I have owned many and still own five British P1796 sabres and I am very confident that your sword doesn't have a British P1796 hilt.
Are there any markings on the blade?
Ian
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