EL7417 - An unusual Napoleonic era British light cavalry officer's sabre, featuring a 1788 pattern light cavalry blade with a 1796 pattern light cavalry hilt. This is an officer's sword rather than a trooper's, but is a plain fighting weapon and not decorated. The enigma with this sword is that the 1788 pattern blade, 34.5 inches long, is stamped on the spine as having been made by Woolley & Deakin.. who were in partnership from 1800. So it seems that whoever purchased this sword wanted the older 1788 style blade, and ordered the regulation 1796 pattern hilt fitted with the older style blade accordingly. My conclusion is that this blade and hilt are contemporary therefore, and no not represent an older blade being updated with a newer hilt. The blade and hilt are solid, with no movement. There is even grey patina and light pitting overall, but everything is structurally sound. The grip is good for the age, with 95% of the leather covering remaining and no movement. I suspect that there was originally grip wire in the recessed of the ribbed grip, but there is no trace of that now. No scabbard.
