Pattern 1796 infantry officer's sword facts for kids
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The Pattern 1796 British infantry officer's sword was a special sword. Officers in the British Army carried it from 1796 until 1822. This time included all of the famous Napoleonic Wars.
This sword was later replaced by a newer type called the gothic hilted sword.
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Sword Design and Features
This sword was first introduced in 1796. It replaced an older sword from 1786. The new design was similar in some ways to the one before it.
The blade of the sword was straight and flat. It had only one sharp edge. A groove, called a fuller, ran along each side of the blade.
The handle, or hilt, was made from shiny brass or a metal called gunmetal. It had a part to protect the knuckles. It also had a guard that looked like two shells. This guard was a bit like those on smallswords, which people used to wear often.
The top part of the handle, called the pommel, looked like an urn. On many later swords, the inner part of the guard could fold. This made the sword more comfortable to wear. It also helped stop it from rubbing against the officer's uniform.
The blades were often very fancy. They were sometimes colored blue and decorated with gold.
Why the Sword Was Criticized
The 1796 Pattern Sword was not known for being a strong fighting weapon. Many people thought it was not very good in battle.
The blade was considered weak. Also, the hilt did not protect the hand very well. This made it less useful in a fight.
General Cavalie Mercer, who was in the Royal Artillery, also carried this sword. He said it was "useless or ridiculous." He felt it was "good for neither cut nor thrust." He also called it "a perfect encumbrance," meaning it just got in the way.
He added that soldiers in the Foot Artillery often wore dirks instead. A dirk is a type of small dagger.
Influence on United States Army Swords
Even though it wasn't the best fighting sword, the 1796 Pattern Sword had an impact. A very similar sword was used by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in the early 1800s.
Later, the United States Army adopted similar swords in 1840. Foot officers used one version. Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) used another, simpler version.
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