#back-sword

[blue-and-gilt]

1796 Heavy cavalry troopers sword by Dawes in original configuration (although the grip leather has been replaced).

When Major John Gaspard Le Marchant, proposed his new cavalry sabre design with his system of mounted swordsmanship; his intention was for his new sabre to be the universal sabre for the British cavalry (a concept that was 60 years ahead of it's time).

And while his sword was accepted as the 1796 Pattern light cavalry sabre, the officers of the heavy cavalry insisted on a straight bladed design. Falling back on his experiences with the Austrian cavalry in the Low Countries campaign (1793-95) he suggested a sword that was an almost direct copy of their model 1769 pallasch.

While an effective cutting sword, the hatchet tip of the 1796 HC, was not suitable for thrusting and in service these were often re-profiled to have a spear tip. Other changes included removing the langets and narrowing the guard on the inside to prevent wear on the uniform while wearing.

Like it's light cavalry counterpart, the 1796 Pattern sword was also exported to Britain's allies; Portugal and Sweden during the Napoleonic wars.

[awallofswords]

Here is an interesting sword that has recently come into my collection; a Georgian era 1796 Pattern Heavy Cavalry Officers Sword for dismounted service.

What makes this sword different, is that instead of having the regulation cut and thrust spadroon blade, this sword as a broad double fullered backsword blade more commonly found on basket hilted swords. Furthermore, it is clearly marked ‘Andrea Farara’ in the main fuller.

Andrea Ferara and his brother were sword makers of the 16th Century that contracted with a pair of English merchants to sell swords into England and Scotland. Over time the name came to be associated with blades of high quality amongst the swordsmen of the Highlands. So much so that by the 17th and 18th Centuries ownership of such a blade became a matter of pride amongst many and the name became a title in of itself.

Because the name can be found on blades of a type that date to after the 16th Century and can be found accompanying marks from other makers, such as ones from Solingen, it is safe to conclude that it took on its own meaning specific to the people of the Scottish Highlands. This is one of the reasons behind the variations in the placement and spelling of the name we see now.

What this all means for this sword, is that it likely belonged to a Scottish Cavalry officer who took a family sword, probably a mid-18th Century basket hilted backsword that was then re-mounted on a 1796 Pattern boat-shell hilt to match the uniform regulation requirements of his unit. Heavy cavalry officers of the time usually owned at least two swords, the 1796 Pattern undress, with the ladder hilt that as used for mounted service and the 1796 Pattern for dismounted service carried at such times that the officer had to perform his duties while on foot. The iron scabbard is widely believed to signify that the sword was carried in the field as it is more robust than the leather one. While the lighter, fancier leather scabbard is more suited to dress occasions.

Overall Length: 975 mm

Blade Length: 823 mm

Grip Length: 135 mm

Inside Grip Length: 100 mm

Weight: 870 grams

Total Weight: 1,250 grams

Point of Balance: 125 mm

[blue-and-gilt]

1796 Pattern Heavy Cavalry Officers’ Undress Sword. 

Rounding out my collection of 1796 Pattern swords, is the 1796 Pattern field service sword for officers of the Dragoons. More commonly called the 1796 Heavy Cavalry Officers Undress sword. 

Part of the equipment an officer was required to purchase when he acquired his commission, were several sets of uniforms for different occasions. This included their field and dress uniforms. For Dress and dismounted service, the regulations stipulated that the officer carry doubled edged cut and thrust sword with gilt boat-shell guard. (Officers of the Light Horse also had a ‘Frock’ or dress sword, but this was a scaled down version of their regular sword).

The regulations of 1788 required all cavalry officers to have the same pattern of service sword as his men, and while the blade profile was adopted, officers of the Dragoons ended up using a new style of hilt. Often called the ‘ladder hilt’ or ‘first pattern honey suckle guard’ not a lot is known about the design and why it was chosen but given how ‘industrial’ the guard on the regular 1796 heavy cavalry troopers sword is, simple ascetic appeal can’t be ruled out. 

As with all officer swords of the time, there are a number of variations in the hilts. Typically, they will have a leather covered grip with twisted silver wire. They are found with and without the grip tabs on the back-strap and very occasionally with langets extending from the guard. There appears to have been standard to the detailing on the bowel guard which were either symmetrical or asymmetrical to various degrees. The blades were broad hatchet tipped back-swords that, depending on the officers’ taste or the depth of their purse, were either plain or decorated with blue and guilt designs. Being a sword for mounted use, the scabbard was of steel construction for better protection of the swords blade. 

My example has a plain, heavy blade that is close to the specifications of the standard trooper’s sword. Regrettably it is without its’ scabbard. 

Overall Length: 1,025 mm

Blade Length: 900 mm

Grip Length: 125 mm

Inside Grip Length: 109 mm

Sword Weight: 1,000 grams

Point of Balance: 190 mm

Curve: 3 mm