British 1788 Pattern Light Cavalry Trooper’s Sword

FOR THE LIGHT CAVALRY, the official regulations of 1788 stipulated that:

“The Hilts to be of the same form as those now used by the Light Dragoons, – and to be Five Inches long in the Grip. – The Blades to be Thirty Six Inches long, – and the Curve in the Centre to be One Inch and Three Quarters from the strait line:- The Breadth to be One Inch and one Half at the Shoulder,- The Blade to be three Eighths of an Inch thick, and to finish about Eleven Inches from the Point.”

In general (we cannot be definite as there are so many variants) the sword comprised a steel hilt with a straight, D-shaped knucklebow, double langets and plain backpiece and pommel.  Grips were invariably covered in fishskin or leather by the method of wrapping the covering over a wooden core and tightly binding the core with cord whilst still wet.  When it dried the grip had produced a series of grooves to allow the binding of steel or brass twistwire.  Scabbards were either iron or iron with leather inserts.  Blades were curved, flat-backed, with a single broad fuller, spear-pointed and double-edged towards the point.

© Harvey Withers Military Publishing, 2024

Taken from The British Sword – From 1600 to the Present Day – An Illustrated History by Harvey J S Withers – 12,000 full colour photographs – 884 pages

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