PRE-FIRST WORLD WAR

The British 1853 Pattern Cavalry Sword was designed to have dual uses - a sharpened tip for thrusting as well as the standard curve for cutting in a sweeping motion. Unfortunately this desire to use the same sword for both light cavalry and heavy cavalry roles culminated in this compromise which led it to be sub-standard in both roles. Built with a three bar hilt, it was the last general pattern sword to have this feature when introduced in the Crimean War. 

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During the Crimean War it was issued to cavalry regiments with varying success. Cavalrymen complained of the blade bending under the thrusting force during combat as well as being difficult to hold true due to the cylindrical studded handle rotating in-hand.

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This example is stamped with a British Crown B 13 on the ricasso with the maker's mark of MOLE on the handguard. Down the spine of the blade is another B mark - indicating the balance point of the blade. Robert Mole supplied these swords to the British Government until 1869. A large number of these swords also made their way over to the United States where they were used during the Civil War albeit without British inspection marks, but holding the MOLE stamping. 

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This example was purchased from Texas, USA.

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