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Old 10th February 2023, 07:29 AM   #29
Radboud
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Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 226
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Thank you for the additional photos, at 32.5 inches thats the standard length for the 1796 Pattern LC. So your’s is most certainly a cavalry officers, most likely from the Yeomanry, given the guilding.

Your other sword is the 1803 Pattern ‘Flank Officers’ sword. The flank companies were the Grenadiers and the Light Company that marched on the flank of the regiment. These were seen as the regiments’ elites with the Grenadiers often at the front and in the thick of battle while the Light Company ranged out, scouting ahead and skirmishing with the enemy before full engagement by the regiment. From 1800 the officers of these companies were given permission to carry sabres (a habit they had already acquired) in place of the 1796 Pattern infantry officers sword. Drawing on the ones that were popular in 1803 an official pattern was declared with a lions head pommel and GR cypher for the guard.

Lots of variation exists in the grips, with leather and shagrin being most common, but ivory and wire grips are also found. Because the hilt is the pattern, there is a lot of variation in the length and shape of the blade in these.

Of course, over time others chose to carry these swords, so it is not impossible that your’s belonged to a high ranking general officer, rather than a ‘Flank officer’.
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