NAPOLEONIC WARS ERA**MATCHING MAKER**Georgian British 1796 Pattern Officer's Private Purchase Quality Light Cavalry Sword By Woolley & Co Birmingham & Scabbard By Woolley & Co Birmingham. Sn 23174:27 Sword

**NAPOLEONIC WARS ERA**MATCHING MAKER**Georgian British 1796 Pattern Officer's Private Purchase Quality Light Cavalry Sword By Woolley & Co Birmingham & Scabbard By Woolley & Co Birmingham. Sn 23174:27 - 23174:27

Woolley of Birmingham produced their 1796 pattern sabres especially for the looming 100 Days War in March and April 1815, after the Congress of Vienna declared Napoleon an outlaw after his escape from his first exile to the Elba, and the Allies mobilised their armies accordingly. This is an original British 1796 Pattern Officer's Private Purchase Quality Light Cavalry Sabre with Scabbard both by Woolley & Co Birmingham. These Sabres were primarily used by British Light Dragoons and Hussars during the Napoleonic Wars. The blade is remembered today as one of the best of its time and has been described as the finest cutting sword ever manufactured in quantity. Officers of the famous 95th Rifles, Light Infantry Regiments and the "flank" Companies of Line Regiments adopted these Swords (The Hit Napoleonic War, Book & TV series Sharpe's Rifles featured this pattern of Sword). Pattern 1796 Sabres were used at The Battle of Waterloo 1815. This example has a single edged, fullered 32 ¾” Sabre blade (38” overall). The blade has some staining and rubbing consistent with age but no rust and the cutting edge has no nicks. The blade has its original leather hilt washer. The spine of the blade is signed ‘Woolley & Co’. Its cross guard with rounded langets, knuckle guard, pommel are in good order. The wood grip has lost some of its leather covering through the ages but there is no damage & the wire binding is tight, complete & intact. The Sabre is complete with its original steel scabbard with 2 hanging rings. The scabbard has even patina with no cracks and just a few small dents to be expected. The scabbard has an engraved roundel with the maker’s name ‘Woolley & Co Birmingham’. The lack of Board of Ordnance marks indicates that this sword & scabbard are an Officer's Private Purchase piece. The price for this excellent Napoleonic Wars Era Sword & Scabbard includes UK delivery. Sn 23174:27

£1,275.00