Most interesting discussion!
The term 'Continental' indeed does refer collectively to 'Europe' in describing the use of the lion head pommel feature, as in checking references with these on examples I found them in France, Germany, Denmark, Holland, Hungary to name several. These with flowing mane down backstrap typically were of course very much like the M1803 infantry officers sword in Great Britain.
The 'dogs head' term used for the often admittedly somewhat grotesque face on some lions heads pommels seems to have arisen during the Revolutionary War. As noted by George Neumann in "Swords and Blades of the American Revolution" (1973, p.101, 119.S); "...many of the animal headed pommels, especially American, are so crude that identification is resolved by calling them 'dogs heads".
This is noted further in "The Dog Head Sword of Succasanna", (J.Brashier, 2016, p.79); "...dog headed swords that appeared at the beginning of the war and disappeared soon after it from the long departed lions heads, and may have embodied anti British feelings. Political cartoons of the day often depicted dogs harassing Britain".
Getting back to this example:
in Wagner ("Cut and thrust Weapons", Prague, 1967) these examples illustrate both the form of 'pipe back' blade seen on the one posted. These seems to have been in use from Solingen (on M1854, Danish sgt sword Moller, 1963, p.67) and was used past the 1900 mark on various 'European' swords. These blades seem to have been used mostly in the German states however.
With the lionhead, one Prussian officers sword is shown (p.267, Wagner) but the three bar guard is more full. I would note that here it is noted to be of 'French' style.
That suggests that perhaps there was a notable possibility of French producers providing hilts. The cartouche with name in the hilt guard is very much a French tradition, and the use of a German made blade not at all unusual.
I would suspect this may be French or German produced by an unrecorded outfitter probably toward latter part 19th c. and for a unit of 'guard' or other auxiliary type . These kinds of units often had unspecified type swords and hilt patterns.
On a side note, Prosser was a London outfitter, cutler of early years of 19th c. and as with most cutlers of the time used German blades.
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