Fine example of an iconic 1796 Light Cavalry officer’s sabre that was purchased from a recently closed militaria museum.
The 820mm curved blade has a flat spine and wide, shallow fuller and terminates in a hatchet point. The first third of the blade retains its fighting edge. There are a few minor edge nicks but the blade is in overall excellent condition with just a few small speckles of tarnish.
The steel stirrup hilt has a faceted grip collar and pommel. The steel is bright and in good condition with a mild age patina. The steel back strap has comma-shaped ears. The ridged wooden grip retains most of its leather wrap and the twisted silver wire is intact. The blade is firm in the hilt.
The sabre is complete with its steel scabbard, which is in overall excellent condition with only mild age related tarnish and a couple of dents towards the drag. The throat of the scabbard has a small repair. The museum’s catalogue labels are still attached to the scabbard.
The sword sheaths and draws smoothly and is held firmly within the scabbard.
There are no maker’s marks on the sabre or scabbard but the faceted grip collar and small comma-like ears on the grip suggest that the maker/hilter might have been Samuel Brunn. Samuel Brunn was known to have imported Solingen made blades and hilted them in his premises in Charing Cross, London.
This is an excellent and very clean example of a much sought after sabre.
