Pattern 1796 infantry officer's sword
The 1796 Pattern British Infantry Officers Sword was carried by officers of the line infantry in the British Army between 1796 and the time of it's official replacement with the gothic hilted sword in 1821. This period encompased the whole of the Napoleonic Wars.
Design
The sword was introduced by General Order in 1796, replacing the previous 1786 Pattern. It was similar to it's prececesor in having a "Spadroon" blade, i.e. one straight, flat backed and single edged with a single fuller on each side. The hilt gilt brass with a knucklebow, vestigial quillion and a twin shell guard being somewhat similar in appearance to that of the smallswords which had been common civilian wear until shortly before this period. The pommel was urn shaped and, in most cases, one of the shells hinged to allow the sword to sit against the body. Blades were commonly quite extensively decorated, often blued and gilt.
Criticism
It was not renowned as a great fighting sword. The blade was weak and the hilt gave very little protection to the hand.[1]. General Cavalie Mercer of the Royal Artillery, who wore the same sword stated that:
"Nothing could be more useless or ridiculous than the old infantry regulation [sword]; it was good for neither cut nor thrust and was a perfect encumberance. In the Foot Artillery, when away from headquarters, we generally wore dirks instead of it" [2].
Influence on United States Army Swords
Regardless of it's weaknesses as a fighting weapon, acording to Robson, a nearly idential sword was carried by the Army Corps of Engineers in the early 19th Century and in turn isimilar words were adopted by the United States Army in 1840 for infantry officers and (with a simpler, unhinged guard) for NCOs.
References
- ^ Withers, Harvey J.S: British Military Swords 1786-12912 The Regulation Patterns, The Regulation Patterns 1788 to 1914, First Edition 2003, Studio Jupitor Military Publishing ISBN 0-9545910-0-3
- ^ Robson, Brian: Swords of the British Army, The Regulation Patterns 1788 to 1914, Revised Edition 1996, National Army Museum ISBN 0-091721-33-6