This is a good example of a pre-regulation light company officer’s sabre dating from the last decade of the 18th Century. The light, also known as flank companies were considered the elite of the infantry regiments, often fighting out in front of the main army as skirmishers.
Measured in a straight line, the highly curved blade is 680mm in length. The un-fullered blade is single-edged and has a flat spine terminating in a hatchet point. The blade is double-edged for the last 285mm, over a third of its total length. The upper and lower edges were service sharpened.
The un-etched blade is in good condition with light cleaning scratches.
The steel stirrup hilt is in good condition. The leather covering to the grip is intact as is the silver wire binding. A small area of loss near the pommel has been repaired with wood filler and blended in to match the rest of the grip. The repair is very well done and unnoticeable other than on close inspection. The grip is solid and strong and the blade is firm in the hilt.
The sabre is complete with its steel scabbard with twin suspension rings. The body of the scabbard has some small dings and one larger one, and patches of shallow pitting. The scabbard retains its wooden liner and the sword sheathes and draws smoothly and is held firmly within.
This is a beautiful and scarce pre-regulation flank officer’s sabre from the Peninsular and Napoleonic Wars period.
