Popularized by the Duke of Wellington and suspected of being influenced by the United States Marine Corps dress sabers, the 1831 Pattern Saber has been the blade sidearm for British Generals up to the modern day. Measuring 35 1/2 inches in overall length, the saber is fitted with a finely etched 30 1/2 inch blade, which has a 12 inch false edge, a subtle latched profile to the spine, etched laurel wreaths and the Queen Victoria cypher on the side panels, and the makers mark "C. SMITH/-12-/Picadilly/London" on the left ricasso. The hilt furniture bears a fine gold washed, with raised scroll, wreath and sword designs, a fine textured pattern around the grip, golden cord sword knot running through the wreath-escutcheoned hole in the base, and a set of two rosette-pattern bolts securing the smooth ivory grip panels. Sheath is brown leather with gilt fittings, the throat bearing a raised plate marked "C.SMITH/12/PICADILLY/LONDON", raised oak leaf designs on the suspension bands, leaf patterns on the drag and a set of 7 chevrons on the tip.

Fine. A small amount of pitting is present on the otherwise good blade, concentrated at the tip, while the edge of the blade shows a number of small dents, concentrated 3/4 of the way toward the tip. The hilt is very fine, with a slight upturn to the rear quillon, a few thin cracks in the right panel, minimal fraying of the sword knot and most of the original gilt finish. The sheath is very good, with a dent in the tip, cracking and flaking of the leather, and 95% of the original gold. Though no provenance information is available on the saber at this time, the wear pattern on the blade suggests that it may have seen actual military use, making the overall high quality of the fit and finish even more impressive.