1796 Heavy Cavalry Sword

The pattern 1796 heavy cavalry sword was the sword used by the British heavy cavalry (Lifeguards, Royal Horse Guards, Dragoon Guards and Dragoons), and King's German Legion Dragoons, through most of the period of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. It played an especially notable role, in the hands of British cavalrymen, at the battles of Salamanca and Waterloo. The pattern was adopted by Sweden and was used by some Portuguese cavalry.

The British 1796 Heavy Cavalry Trooper's Sword was a direct copy of the Austrian "pallasch" sword pattern of 1769 for heavy cavalry (it later received an iron scabbard, in which form it was adopted by the British). John Le Marchant, a cavalry officer who designed the 1796 pattern light cavalry sabre, undoubtedly saw the Austrian weapon in use during the Low Countries Campaign of 1793-95. When his intention that his own sword design should be adopted by all the cavalry was denied by the decision to arm the heavy cavalry with a straight sword it is probable that he suggested the Austrian sword as a model. The Austrian sword, and its British derivative, was a dedicated cutting weapon with a broad heavy blade and was renowned as being completely unfit for delicate swordsmanship. This was also the foundation for respect it gained from those who appreciated it; most cavalry troopers used the blades like bludgeons and the guards as knuckle dusters (as Le Marchant observed) and the 1796 was significantly more adept at this than most other swords.

Technically it was a backsword, that is a sword with a straight blade with one cutting edge and the opposite edge of the blade (the "back") thickened for most of its length to give added strength. The blade was 35 inches in length, with a single broad fuller each side, and the hilt combined a pierced disc guard and single knucklebow. The grip was of ribbed wood, or wood bound with cord to resemble the same, and covered in leather. The backpiece had ears which were riveted through the tang of the blade to give the hilt and blade a very secure connection. It was often modified by its users. The point was originally a 'hatchet point', a curved diagonal front edge similar to that of the Japanese katana, but most were altered to a symmetrical 'spear point', more common at the time, or alternatively made more acute whilst retaining the asymmetry of the tip. This was done in order to improve the sword's ability to thrust. The langets were often removed and the left side of the guard ground away so as to reduce wear to uniforms. This would also have made it more comfortable to wear, especially on horseback.

The sword is invariably most famous for its role in the "Sharpe" books. Bernard Cornwell describes it as 'heavy and ill balanced', 'crude and mass produced', a 'brutal blade that will hammer though lighter swords and finer techniques'. An accurate description.

A well-known description of the brutal power of the weapon was made by Sgt. Charles Ewart, 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys) concerning how he captured an Imperial Eagle at Waterloo:

Officers carried a service sword with a blade of identical general form to that detailed above, although many bore etched, or blued and gilt, decoration. However the guard was entirely different to the Trooper's pattern, being of bowl form, and incorporating an elaborate pierced honeysuckle design with prominent rear quillon. A variant type with a hilt similar to that of the officers' pattern, but in brass with a brass scabbard, exists and is believed to be a sword used by the other ranks of the Household regiments for use when on home (ceremonial) service. The dress sword for Heavy Cavalry officers was a much smaller and lighter weapon, having a knucklebow, ovoid pommel and boat-shell guard in gilt (gold-plated) brass or gunmetal (a form of bronze). The blade was much shorter and narrower than the service sword's, and usually double edged with a short narrow central fuller each side.

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