Featured Battle of Waterloo anniversary......

Nice bayonets

Napoleon had most of the German edged weapons manufacturers under control and most definitely had them produce French weapons.

 

This M1796 was made by „Craven“ before 1804, because after that date the company had a different name/an additional owner.

Besides the manufacturer name and the 4 with crown on the blade no other markings.

 

The Crown 4 I think is a Tower of London inspector? Thomas Craven though was in Birmingham. SFAIK, Craven was still working and marking swords simply 'Craven' until 1820??

 

I found this on the net:
<<<Thomas Craven was a well regarded Birmingham maker, known to operate from 1797 to 1803. After this he went into partnership as "Cooper and Craven".>>>

Anyhow, there are different markings in existence: T. Craven --- Craven --- THO CRAVEN ---

 

An odd one this, and I'd be inclined to agree with your dates (most of my information is on socket bayonets, and Craven didn't make them so far as I know!), but, Robson P.97 mentions that Craven was in business from 1818-1820. I also found this on line, from The Royal Collections Trust:

"Light Cavalry Trooper's sword, the Pattern for Other Ranks of Light Cavalry for 1796; the stirrup hilt with langets and a scrolled quillon; the shaped wood grip with a metal backpiece and plain pommel; single-edged, curved steel blade with a rounded point and a groove each side. The blade stamped CRAVEN. The sword-cutler was Thomas Craven, recorded in Moland Street, Birmingham from 1818 to 1820, though he likely worked before this date."

https://www.rct.uk/collection/71743/sword

 

I wonder in fact Frank, how effective a weapon it really was? Yes, if you hit someone they will stay hit! BUT, if you miss, it is such a heavy weapon and difficult to control that you would leave yourself wide open to a counter attack, with possible fatal consequences! The British 1796, which it was based on, was I think, a far superior weapon.

@Bev aka thelmasstuff

Yes, it is a long climb up those stairs at Waterloo isn't it , but the panoramic view when you are up there is rather spectacular isn't it. I often wondered how they cut the grass??

 

I just weighed both sabres. The M1796 weighs 955 grams, the M1811 weighs 1155 grams.
When holding the sabres the M1796 feels more agile, you can definitely feel the weight difference when holding the M1811. The blade of the M1811 is thicker and the sabre gives you more confidence. I don't think there was much fencing blade against blade back then, I think the cavalry soldier swung the sabre against infantry or other horse back soldiers while riding/while passing by, so there was not much counter attack. If there was a counter attack I really want the M1811 with the heavier blade for blocking another blade. The blade of the M1811 just gives you more confidence, it seems to be more stable. Anyways, the Prussian M1811 was replaced with the M1852 cavalry sabre with basket hilt, because there were too many hand injuries reported while fighting with the M1811.

M1852 Cavalry Sabre


There are three unit stamps on the sabre:

The first one (deleted) to the 9th Rheinische Hussar Regiment 4th Eskadron

The second unit stamp (deleted) to a Supply/Train unit

The third stamp is to a Dragoon Regiment

 

I too doubt there was much blade vs blade use, more as you say, against infantry etc. But a difficult blade to control against any enemy.
Have you seen the documentary with Sean Bean on Waterloo? There they show what damage the two types of 1796 swords could do on a pig carcass. The Heavy cavalry sword did some damage, but the Light Cavalry version almost removed the leg! The wounds these swords must have inflicted, especially against infantry, must have been horrendous.

Another nice sword by the way, and not a pattern that I knew of. Thank you.

 

I have not seen the documentary you mentioned, but I will look for it now.

The M1796 light cavalry sabre was definitely very capable. I read somewhere that the heavy 1796 sabre was actually disliked very much by the troops.

Since the Prussian edged weapon manufacturer were mostly occupied by France until 1814 there were not many M1811 produced by the time of the Waterloo battle. The majority of the Prussian cavalry units were equipped up until and including Waterloo battle with British M1796 light cavalry sabres.

 

That makes you wonder why they didn't simply copy the lighter, more agile British pattern.

Here are the Sean Bean documentaries.... Part two is the one with the sword demonstration at the Royal Armouries.

Part 1


Part 2

 

Thanks for the Links!!!

Actually they wanted to copy the British M1796, but the German engineers and weapon manufacturer always have to chisel everything out of a massive chunk of steel to make it more sturdy and heavy ;-)

 

Absolutely true! I remember being shown a replica war hammer, we are talking several kilos, ridiculously heavy and unwieldly, which drew some strange looks from the owner when I remarked on this.
The famous quote from Boris 'The Blade' in the film Snatch, 'heavy is good, heavy is reliable', well not in this case I think..................

Enjoy the films!

 

Major Sharp. liked his rifle more !!!

 

Did he??? In the Sharpe films that I have got, and I have got all of them!, he usually dispatches his enemy with his sword, which happens somewhat oddly to be a 1796 pattern Heavy Cavalry sword.

 

This is a little too late for the battle but one of my favorites

 

I like the way it's relaxing on the back yard deck...!!