Hi Fernando,
This is of course the famed officers sabre that became known as the Mameluke, as it was adopted by France, England and America in recognition of these renowned warriors of Egypt. The sabres used by many of these Mamelukes with the familiar Ottoman hilt immediately influenced French officers who began using this style sabre immediately after defeating the Mamelukes at the Battle of the Pyramids. The British adopted the hilt style with the pattern 1831 sword for general officers.
In America, the Marines became influenced by the style during the wars with the Barbary Pirates (1801-1805) and eventually adopted the hilt style, however 'officially' the sabres used by thier officers were a French style of European form from 1804-1818.
The first mention of the 'mameluke' sabre in Marine regulations was in 1825, and subsequently in 1833 and 1839, these swords were mandated for Marine officers. In "The American Sword" (H.Peterson, p.167) it is noted that "...despite the fact that the 1825 regulations were the first to make the mameluke hilt mandatory, there is some indication it was already being worn by some Marine officers".
From illustrations I have seen, these earlier ivory hilts were often carved with a kind of 'palladian' type arch and other subtle detail. The shape seems very much like this very plain example. It is interesting that the plain ear and langet on the crossguard which is squared off rather than rounded seems to have been known on these hilts.
The inscribed panoply of martial motif on the blade seems characteristic of many sword blades for officers in these times, and are found on many various European officers sword blades. It does seem somewhat possible this could well be one of the sabres privately acquired by a Marine officer on this early period just prior to 1825. The styling, simple hilt (noted as often typical on early Marine swords) and the military motif which was generally applied in many trade produced blades may be considered in this.
The only question would be why the E Plurbis Unum and eagle are not present if this was made for an American officer, unless this was a sabre made in the period, perhaps in France but was not specified toward export to America. There are other possibilities of course in these times of England at war with France, then England and America at war, with France remaining allied to America from the time of the American Revolution. In these times there was dramatic cross influence of military fashion, and the one point with this sabre is that it is an officers mameluke sabre, and probably of c.1820 quite possibly that of an American Marine officer from private purchase.
With this speculation I would of course look forward to the results of further research and other observations.
I have always considered these officers mameluke sabres to be more dress swords, but this one I really like as it looks strictly business
The patination and minor damage simply add to that charisma in its presence, and if proven to be one of these early Marine sabres, that effect would be well understood.
All very best regards,
Jim