Basket hilted backsword

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks for the updated photos Ron, and seeing the blade detail, it is of course obvious this has nothing to do with the M1796 blade. With the elliptical fuller terminus it seems more like a Continental type blade, so likely a Solingen product.

I know what you mean on the M1796 heavy cavalry swords, and quite honestly they received similar reviews to what you have noted when they were first introduced. These did however exact horrifying results on the French forces at Waterloo with the immortal charge of the Royal Scots Greys. Despite these accounts, for the most part these were regarded exactly as you note, as being clumsy and ineffective, quite contrary to the ambitious hopes of LeMarchant when he sought to create these official patterns for light and heavy cavalry.

The French pallasch as you have also noted, was a superb weapon indeed.

All the best,
Jim