Despite the later versions, I still vote that it could be a boarding piece. I think the consensus is, if you don't buy one that's gov't made (i.e. not a private purchase), you have to take a chance. I have one with a flared blade, rounded eye, beak-like Brit spike, forward and rear facing langets and signs aging, but the head looks just as 'shiny' or more than yours. I stand behind my model that it's private purchase mid-19th, but others might not agree-
