Heavy cavalry sword, dragoon or horse grenadiers, 1780 (c)

Straight, double-edged blade, made in Solingen, Germany, with steel basket guard with flattened bars cut into the form of the cross of St Andrew; two flattened loops form the stool; round leather grip, bound with twisted wire and a 'Turks Head' pommel.

Heavy cavalry troopers carried long heavy swords with straight blades designed to pierce their targets. The trooper's sword was held with a locked stretched-out arm during a cavalry charge. This would transmit the full weight of his horse onto the tip of the sword. This one has a 'basket' hilt, giving maximum protection to the hand.