Not the most revealing pic, but here it goes. First quarter 19th to mid 19th century based on the sheet guard, straight blade to me indicates cavalry (this pattern was emerging in Spain, among other countries). The pattern was finally established as the 'superior' horseman's sword in the Patton 1913 patterns during WWI (can you imagine cavalry in the modern era? Just as it became clear that this type was the best for riding down and impaling an opponent (as opposed to a slashing curved implement), the sword in warfare became obsolete. The ball pommel is a hold-out from the past century. Sheet guard swords ran into the early 20th c., but this detail on yours makes me think its earlier.
I will say that there were also some naval type swords of this pattern (Brit m1845 model, with sheet guard as well as generic 'private purchase types with sheet metal guards), but these have spear-point blades. Yours from the pic appears single-edged??
Now, let the experts come in and prove me the fool-
