Hmmm. That one is a curiosity. You say you've seen others with a straight 'spined' blade? The hilt is as you pointed out, Dutch, with there being two patterns of similarity from this time period (1770-1795-ish), the distinguishing characteristic being the knucklebow 'nut' on the side, backstrap brass with leather single wrap grip and birdhead style with capstan. These are the 'Marine sabal' or Dutch marine swords. I've only seen them with curved, single edged blades. So, here we go with theories...
#1-It could be a one-off that was assembled as an honest weapon, but one of a kind. Dutch naval swords made their way around and it could have been refitted.
#2-It could have been a refit for a Dutch privateer. After all, it is at least partly a naval piece. Many naval swords of the era ended up (after their period of use was ending) going to merchant ships for protection from pirates/natives in hostile ports, etc. The ole m1804 British figure of 8 cutlass has a hundred variations used by privateers during the War of 1812. The Dutch had privateers during this period.
#3- The biggest stretch. In Gilkerson's 'Boarders Away', he posted a very popular (and supported) theory the the m1790 Dutch marine sabal was adapted by the newly formed U.S. Marines in the last decade of the 18th century. Experts point out that most Dutch specimens are heavily marked, stamped and otherwise branded as Dutch, with rack and troop numbers, manufacturing symbols. Many Dutch swords found on this side of the pond are completely unmarked, even lacking an export number. These are theorized to be American specimens. I also believe there is evidence of said swords being purchased and shipped to the U.S. at that time.
BUT...they still had the typical curved saber blades. One could extrapolate that perhaps a small batch of these, not in marine service, could have been refitted by American privateers during the War of 1812 to have such a blade as yours. There were quite a few of these legal pirates sailing about (see my favorite, Otway Burns). All of this is just conjecture, unfortunately, without more proof.
Anyone else out there got one like this? If we could identify the origin of the blade, it might shed a clue.
Mark
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