THE 1796 PATTERN HEAVY CAVALRY OFFICER’S SWORD (DRESS) was a natural consequence of the need to find a sword less cumbersome to carry when dismounted (as compared to its the Undress pattern). It is an attractive variation of boat-shell-hilted and straight-bladed swords worn by a number of European nations at that time, including Sweden, Germany and Austria. It was not necessarily a new pattern in the British Army as heavy cavalry officers had been carrying similar swords for some years before 1796 and this was more an attempt at standardisation.
A contemporary account describes the sword:
“They have also a second sword, called a frock sword, which has a two-edged blade, of lighter construction than their field sword. It is mounted with a gilt hilt, called a boat shell hilt. This is to replace their heavy field sword, and is worn chiefly when the officer is dismounted.”
The sword had a straight blade of flat back type, with a single fuller to each side, double-edged towards the point. The gilt brass boat shell hilt had prominent, flared quillons that extended beyond the shell guard. The knucklebow was usually screwed into the pommel and grips were normally bound with silver twistwire. Blades tended to include blue and gilt decoration but some examples are quite plain and undecorated. Scabbards were of black leather with a gilt brass locket, middle band, chape and a narrow shoe. Steel scabbards for this sword are known and could have been carried when an officer was dismounted.
© Harvey Withers Military Publishing, 2024