Actually, this is a REMARKABLE acquisition!!!!
While it is of course not surprising to think of this as British etc. given their profound attraction to the light cavalry of Eastern Europe in the 18th century, this is actually a Polish cavalry saber of 18th c.
A very similar example is found in "Ciecia Prawdziwa Szabla", Wojciech Zablocki, Warsaw, 1989,
These 'monster' head pommels are seen on several sword types of these regions in 18thc. . I would note that these rather extreme curves on the blades were much favored, and the 'clipped point' is referred to in "Schwert Degen Sabel", (Seifert, 1962) as a PANDOUR point.
The pandours were irregular forces from the Balkans and East Europe, most notably Hungary for Austria during the War of the Austrian Succession in mid 18th c. '
Later in the century these formidable forces were inspiration for similar in other European armies as well.
The absence of one guard bar and the capstan is not unusual with variations in these hilts.
The blades on these were often from Styria and several blade producing cities there. The decorative motif was popular on these sabers, often including royal or personal cyphers and various military panoplies.
An extremely nice saber, regardless of lack of scabbard. These were usually leather and did not survive in many cases. The grip would have been leather wire wrapped.
Please note, I am not saying this is a pandour saber, but that the influence/similarities seem present in this Polish saber of the 18th c.
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