C.1800's British Naval Type Officer's Fighting Sword

A good C.1800’s British Naval Type Officer’s Fighting Sword

This is a fine example of a C.1800’s British Naval Officer’s Type Fighting Sword. Although not engraved with any naval motifs (many British naval officers’ swords of the period were lacking in any naval designations to hilt or blade), the size of this sword probably indicates naval use as it would be too short for cavalry use and it not of a type commonly carried by British infantry officers of the period. It is of typical stirrup-hilted cavalry officer’s form but smaller in proportions and so ideal for combat use aboard a crowded ship. The hilt is gilt brass with a finely chequered ivory grip. The blade is curved and multi-fullered. I believe that it could actually be an earlier c.1700’s family blade mounted on a later hilt. No scabbard.