Hello,

I have a sword here with a fairly typical 1788 HC hilt, but an atypical gently curved blade. I am guessing, as these regulations were pretty loose at this point, that this is in fact a 1788 LC Officer's sabre, but I was just wondering if anyone else had seen or had any images of a 1788 HC with a curved blade? I am not turning up much. Perhaps it is a pre-1788p circa 1780?

I will attach a photo below, I know the sword is slightly dirty and in need of a good clean.

Thanks,
Z

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Hello Zach,
I think that your idea about this being possibly pre-1788 pattern is probably correct. While some HC officers apparently did use hilts like this, the genuine 1788 HC was based on a slot hilt with 3 branches to both sides.

How long is the blade? How long does it measure from grip base to capstan? This may not even be a cavalry sword at all, as this type of hilt was used by infantry as well as cavalry.

But HC or infantry or whatever, that's a nice sword!

--ElJay