Unidentified dirk or hanger?

[werecow]

I just spotted a very similar one on an ebay clone; from the description of that sword this appears to be a Dutch or Belgian municipal constable short sword from around 1830.

[M ELEY]

I'm not surprised. It seems like just after the first quarter of the 19th century, with industrialization and factories, there was a glut of munitions-grade swords made for civil branches of government which hadn't been readily available previously. I'm particularly thinking of all the briquet patterns we seen, but also constable swords, forrestry swords, sappers, etc. Still, this isn't one that pops up often as I'd never seen this pattern myself.

[werecow]

I'm wondering to what extent this model was regulated. Unfortunately the other two examples I've come across are both still on sale so I can't share the pictures, but while the similarities in the hilt are unmistakable (exact same pommel and guard and same proportions), they show some variation in both the blade and grip. One has a curved fullered saber blade, the other has a straight blade but no fuller, and both have an ebony grip with small ribs instead of the smooth horn that mine has.