Sharpe has always used a Pattern 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sabre. It's usually too long for an infantry officer on foot, but Sharpe is tall enough to carry it. His sword is broken in the attack on the fort and the sword that is given to Harper to replace it clearly has a blade that tapers towards the point. It also does not appear to be particularly long. It has a hand guard consisting of two rounded bars. Father Curtis tells Harper that he will only need half the guard.
Harper apparently works the sword, but when he presents it to Sharpe, it is clearly a standard Pattern 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sabre with a long, parallel-sided blade, a prominent disc guard and a handle with a single, flattened, hand-guard bar that does not resemble the handle of the sword given to Harper.
Harper apparently works the sword, but when he presents it to Sharpe, it is clearly a standard Pattern 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sabre with a long, parallel-sided blade, a prominent disc guard and a handle with a single, flattened, hand-guard bar that does not resemble the handle of the sword given to Harper.