Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. Light dragoons were established in the British Army in 1756, when a troop was authorized to be raised in each dragoon regiment, with entire regiments being converted or raised as light dragoons beginning in 1759. These light horsemen were to be armed with “a straight cutting sword, 34 in. in the blade, with a light hilt, without a basket" per the original 1756 warrant, but from period iconography of light dragoons from c.1759-1763, it can be established that most were furnished with slotted D-guards and both straight or curved blades. Before 1788, the British had no universal patterns of Cavalry saber, each regiment choosing the style it favored.

This incredibly scarce example features the latter form, double-fullered and with a heavy, cast-brass slotted hilt with channeled wooden grip covered with sharkskin and twisted wire wraps. This exact example is featured on Page 132 of “Weapons of the American Revolution” by Warren Moore, the sword having come from his collection. Moore was one of the leading historians & preservationists of American Revolutionary War weapons & accoutrements, making this a truly phenomenal example that certainly saw service in the Revolution. Even rarer is that this example retains its original brass-mounted leather scabbard.

This pattern of sword was used as a model for the James Potter American Loyalist Cavalry sabers, one of which sold in 2021 at auction for $22,800 without a scabbard.

The outer face of the knuckle-bow is engraved with B / 30 issue marks, indicating that it was the 30th sword issued to the B or 2nd troop in a light dragoon regiment. The British Army sent two regiments of light dragoons to serve in North America during the Revolutionary War. The first to arrive was the 17th Light Dragoons, who landed in Boston in 1775, while the city was still under siege by the Continental Army. They received their baptism of fire soon after their arrival when the horsemen volunteered to dismount and take part in the Battle of Bunker Hill. They would remain in America for the next eight years, serving in nearly every major campaign up through the end of hostilities. In October 1776 they were joined by the 16th Light Dragoons. The two regiments fought alongside one another through the campaigns around New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, but unlike their compatriots, the 16th returned to Britain in 1779.

Given the markings & provenance, we can assume that the saber was utilized by a dragoon in the “B” troop of the 16th or 17th Light Dragoons, also possibly having been captured & used by the Americans as many were. In fact, the light dragoon sabers used by the Americans during the Revolution were modeled after this exact style by James Potter, whose swords have become some of the most sought-after artifacts of the war.

The blade of this tremendous example measures a staggering 33”, with an overall length of 41¼”. There are a couple minor chips in the edge of the blade, with a lovely oxidized patina throughout, with a double fuller along the majority of its length. It appears that the tip of the saber, approximately the final inch, was partially broken off and subsequently restored, almost certainly by Moore himself. The blade is in truly phenomenal condition for its age, and is still tight to the hilt.

The hilt is absolutely enormous by later standards, measuring 8¼” long on its own. The grip is the original sharkskin-covered wood, wrapped with a single twisted wire, with a patina that truly looks 268 years old. There is some wood showing at the top of the grip, certainly due to the shrinkage of the sharkskin over time. The cast-brass slotted hilt is in fantastic condition with a patina that cannot be replicated. The fluted pommel is in great shape as well, with the cap still retained and without serious denting.

The only thing more difficult to find than this Pattern of saber is its scabbard, which this example retains fully. The 33” long scabbard is in museum-grade condition for its age, a truly phenomenal piece to have been preserved so well. There are some spots of minor material loss & weakness from cracking & crazing, but the stitching on the reverse is almost completely intact. The brass throat & frog button are well-retained with the small bit of the throat sticking out of the leather as is correct. The endmount chape is similarly well-retained without any play or damage.

Light Dragoon sabers of this period are truly unheard of in terms of survivability, with the few that are existing being on display in museums or private collections. Here’s an exciting and scarcely seen opportunity to find a confirmed Revolutionary War Dragoon saber, one that was copied for use by the American Dragoons and is featured in one of the most well-known Revolutionary War reference books. You likely won’t ever see another of its make or caliber. Comes ready for further research and display.

Specifications:-
Blade Length: 33"
Blade Style: Single Edged Curved Dragoon Saber with double Fullers
Overall length: 41 1/4“
Scabbard Length: 33”