Rev War Relic?

This was just donated to our historical society by descendants of the founder of the town. We were told it came from the Rev War Battle of Springfield. Could it be from then?

 

it looks old and deadly enough....

 

Chances are very big it was indeed a silent witness of that battle!
What you have seems like a French cavalry time periode sword.
Hussards sword to be more specific, to me.
Do no clean or scratch any part of the sword, but are you able to see what follows to the "AN" that shows on the pic.
It probably means "year" in French, so what follows would exactly date your sword.

 

I'm certainly not a weapon person, but my impression is similar to Kristiaan that it was used by the cavalry especially with that stirrup shape guard. I believe the curved shape of the blade would make it a saber.


Following are examples cavalry swords/sabers used in the same time frame that have similar styled grips, stirrup shaped hilt or guard, curved single edge blade with a flat back, pointed or rounded langets (your sword has a pointed langet).

This one was used by the British cavalry during the Napoleonic wars - 1796.
http://www.antiqueswordtrader.co.uk...ht-cavalry-officers-sword-napoleonic-war.html

This one is called an American Light Artillery Militia Saber dated a little later to c1810.
http://www.faganarms.com/collection...an-light-artillery-militia-saber-c1810-10-525

American Cavalry saber dating from c1818. It has a wooden grip that may have originally had leather around it.
http://arms2armor.com/Swords/1818cav.htm

--- Susan

 

Post on Company of Military Historians forum. Many sword collectors there and many very knowledgeable on Rev War period topics. Blade length?

 

Thank you all again for the observations and information about our sword. I will try to pop into the museum on Sunday and measure the length of the blade.

Kristiaan, I will also see if I can read the character(s) after the AN, but, if I remember correctly, I think I saw a P that was a bit to the right of, and not aligned with, the AN.

 

You also have
http://www.swordforum.com/forums/content.php?s=dd31a4e240d317f10ff207aa49cfd77e
Answers can take long to arrive, but they are very accurate.