EL6266 - A scarce and very individual (perhaps unique) Napoleonic era (c. 1805-1810) British grenadier officer's sabre, with Prosser-type pipe-back blade (31 inches), retailed by Dean of London. A really lovely sword, with characteristic shagreen grip, featuring two Mamluk-esque decorative lateral rivets and large decorated langets. The guard and backstrap of a bronze-like copper-alloy, with intricate engraved decoration, with applied grenade emblem to the front of the knucklebow. Together with a matching scabbard, which carries on the decorative themes of the hilt, with traces of gilt remaining. The leather supple and complete. There is a little bit of movement in the guard and some dents to the scabbard mounts, but otherwise minimal age damage. The blade with some staining, but basically quite clean and bright for the age - no etching or decoration to the blade, as was usual with these early pipe-backs. The half-enclosed beak-nose shape of the pommel, coupled with the early pipe-back blade, gives the likely date of around 1805-1810. Despite being quite decorated, this feels like a real fighting blade in the hand and the grip is very ergonomic.
