24" curved single-edged blade with a narrow 16.75" unstopped fuller along the spine. Blade 1.25" wide at ricasso. Overall length 29.5". 5.25" cast brass hilt with two-branch half-basket guard and knuckle bow. Grip cast with spiral grooves, a flat disc quillon and a ball pommel. Blade stamped with the maker mark "DEAKIN" on the reveres as well as with an odd, crude "B {BROAD ARROW} O" mark at the reverse ricasso. Obverse stamped with a "{CROWN}/2" inspection mark. Face of guard engraved with the rack number "RN/11", indicating Royal Navy use. Francis Deakin of Birmingham had War Department contracts for bayonets and Pattern 1796 light and heavy cavalry sabers during the Napoleonic Wars and War of 1812 period. While the Board of Ordnance mark is suspect, the sword appears authentic, as do the other markings. During this period the captains of Royal Navy ships acquired small arms and equipment from ship chandlers out of funds provided to the captain by the navy, and often purchased items of minimal quality in order to conserve funds. The acquisition of what is essentially a Pattern 1751 type infantry hanger for use on board ship is not out of the question for a captain who may have obtained a quantity of these at a discount, rather than the more commonly used double disc iron hilted sabers that were ubiquitous during the period.

[War of 1812] [Napoleonic Wars][Edged Weapons] [Swords]

Good. Blade moderate oxidation with a mostly smooth brownish patina, some scattered areas of surface roughness and some lightly scattered pitting. Brass hilt with s rich, uncleaned patina. Peen at pommel with dings and dents, having been mildly disturbed.