I offer for sale a very rare 1788 Pattern Irish Dragoon's(?) cavalry sword, almost certainly manufactured by famous Irish sword cutler - Thomas Read of 4 Parliament Street, Dublin (although it could by another contemporary Dublin sword cutler of quality - John Read of 8 College Green, Dublin, who was making swords during the same period as Thomas. 
 
I would estimate that this sword was made at sometime between 1788 - 1808, as in 1808 Thomas Read changed his trading name to "Read & Co", but before it was simply "Read". At the ricasso of this sword is stamped the name "READ".
 
The double-fullered blade of the sword is slight curved and measures at present some 27 inches long, although both fullers run almost to the tip of the blade, indicating that the blade has been shortened by a few inches during it's working lifetime, possibly to convert it to infantry flank officer use.
The blade is a good solid fit to the stirrup hilt (no looseness). The blade bears a few 'nicks' to it's keenly sharpened edge, indicating use in service.
 
The hilt consists of a Reeded Ebony grip, back-strap terminating in a typical flat, slightly canted pommel with button-cap tang, Stirrup knuckle guard, flat counter guard and quillon with scroll terminal, Altogether a very rare sword.