Dear Mark, the article author desn't mention that these swords were 'copied' from those of other nations but that they have 'characteristics in common'. You may take your guess.
Here you have in detail how these swords were mounted and which variants were determined for the different ranks.
To add that there are rare examples were the hilt is solid silver, with respective period hallmarks.
A pity none of these served in the Navy; well ... you never know
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