Will, great find!!!
Wyatt was I think a New York maker who like Potter produced swords for loyalist forces during the Revolution. As of course, America was a British colonial entity, these kinds of commercial enterprises were not selectively characterized necessarily.
The form follows the typical British dragoon swords of the 1770s known as the 'four slot' group.
The first example is likely a prototype 'light dragoon' for the units selected for the first such units such as the 15th in 1759, this probably 1760s and IMO likely Jeffries in London, using German blade. This corresponds remarkably to the swords known as 'Potter' swords, used as noted by loyalist forces and the units sent from Great Britain.
The second is the form from 1770s into 80s with guard bars added, in this time the cavalry still did not have light and heavy cavalry technically (until the so called 1788 'patterns'), so distribution is unclear.
With the question regarding Wyatt is well placed, and I have seen articles in Man At Arms magazine of him, as course as well as Potter. I'll see if I can get to them to check on details.
I hope Glen comes in on this as he is the resident expert on early American swords.
NOTE: unusual pommel on yours, corresponds more to Scottish basket hilts much earlier.
|