English C.1780 Infantry Officer's Cut-Steel Sword

A very good and quite unusual example of a c.1780 English infantry officer’s cut-steel sword with a steel, double-shell hilt and faceted oval pommel.

The grip is made from finely cut and ribbed ivory that is complete and without any damage. Many ivory sword grips of this age are chipped or cracked so it is nice to find one that has survived such a long period of time. The blade is of slim, rapier profile and is double-edged. This sword dates from a time that probably pre-dates the introduction of official patterns to British military swords. In this case, the first type, cushion-pommelled 1786 pattern Infantry Officer’s Sword would have followed this sword. I would guess that this sword is from a time when British infantry officers had more influence as to the choice of sword design that they wished to carry and this was a unique private purchase example.