1796LC-like sword

[Hotspur]

Hi Timo

I would definitely say not American cutlered but like so many of its type, meant for mounted use and with no langets likely once had a leather scabbard. Can you post a closeup of the hilt itself? The way the guard at the right angle is joined can be telling. is thre a little buttress in that area? One then can also wonder where the sword surfaced and was sold in the last decades.

Looks kinda British Yeomanry militia to me. US imports of mounted artillery swords tend to be even lighter and slimmer, even at the same length. At some point we must discard the thought that any sabre with a P guard is 1796 like.

American makers did produce brass hilts without langets but most often shorter swords. The US made mounted swords at the end of the 18th century more often a hussar type hilt in iron/steel (Rose, Starr et al). Harold Peterson's 1950s "bible" still holds a lot of the best water 60m years later. Brass/yellow for artillery and plated or steel/iron white for cavalry and infantry officers. I have notes somewhere about the need for finished brass hilts and scabbard fittings because the US could not keep up with the wartime need in the Napoleonic/War of 1812. That letter from a US Marine officer.

There are a good many US sword books. These three combined are a good start.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Sword.../dp/0960309411

http://www.amazon.com/Swords-And-Swo.../dp/0873649273

http://www.amazon.com/American-Sword.../dp/0917218787

Cheers

GC