Spanish sword with French trophy blade

This interesting sword combines the hilt of a Spanish 1796 pattern Heavy Cavalry sword with a modified French Cuirassier sword.

The Spanish were one of the first European countries to adopt specific standardisation for their military swords. They were authorised by the Royal Ordinance of the 12th of July of 1728 for all Spanish Cavalry of the Spanish Empire. There were a few evolutions in these standards; 1728 established a butterfly cup hilt and broadsword blade for the cavalry. 1768 established a separate backsword for dragoons. The 1796 policy adopted the bell guarded hilt as the new cavalry standard. Several example are exhibited in the Museu Militar in Barcelona

The sword is emblematic sword of the Napoleonic period. A straight bladed double fullered Cuirassier sword stamped with the "M" under a circle/star of Controleur 1re Classe Jean-Jacques Mouton (23 nov. 1793- 21 feb 1809) The blade has been modified, with one of the sides ground down and sharpened to provide a cutting edge. Overall the blade has also been shortened and the tip re-profiled.