Tell me more! British 1796 Cavalry Saber

[Papabyrd]

Is there any documents, Pictures, or battle field finds that show whether any British model 1796 or German model 1811 ( they are a carbon copy of each other) cavalry sabers were imported during the civil war for ether side? Seems to me there would have been large numbers of these swords surplus across the pond during the civil war.

 

[UCVRelics]

By the time of the CW these were well out of vogue. There may have been a few that "MAY" have made into the CW that would have come from someone that took their Dad or Grand dads sword to battle. Still a nice old sword.

 

[Glen_C]

Fwiw, the sword you are picturing is closer to the 20th century than the ACW, or indeed the Napoleonic era. These continued in service in Prussia up through WWI.

There is a passage in a book regarding Lyon parading through ST Louis in victory accompanied by his German guard with their big black swords but the description ends there. IMO, there are several instances where Immigrant officers and others brought their swords with them. Franz Sigel as an instance.

Cheers
GC

 

[Papabyrd]

Thanks for the info

 

[Old Soldier]

The British Light cavalry 1796 sword had a much wider point - a real 'chopper' - and the scabbard had two sling loops. The Prussian Artillery Swords of the 1840s were more pointed and had only one loop. The grip swell was more central too, like yours.

 

[Papabyrd]

Thank you, Old Soldier, very good info, nice to be able to compare the different types and year models.