2 swords for ID please.

[katana]

Here is a picture provided by a very helpful formite on SFI. It is described as a light cavalry sword....likely, mine is the Infantry Officer's variant. The blade inscibed "Vive Napoleon" .....long live Napoleon ...so obviously French. The hilt not a perfect match, but, too close to ignore. It has also been suggested that the more parabolic curved blade (marmaluke style blade) on my example, is quite rare.
It seems that the evidence is starting to strongly suggest French and, possibly, of the Napoleonic era. I have read that the stirrup hilts were prone to battle damage and in the case of the Cavalry, damage from the rider falling from his horse (with sword in hand).

Kind Regards David