Often times refered to - although erroneously - as the English Pattern 1796 Short Saber, it is in fact not a saber at all as it is straight-bladed and not curved. Carried by British officers as early as 1770 - and through much of the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 - it was officially adopted in 1796, hence the model-year designation. Several later American sword patterns - such as the Model 1840 NCO - were based in part on this design.
This sword is very similar to the Danish Pattern 1837 Infantry Officer's Sword and the Prussian Infantry Officer's Sword of the late 1700s and the 1800s.

Overall length is about 37" to 38";

Hilt is mostly of brass, with copper wire wrap ocassionally found; crossguard is a bilobate clamshell in design, and many versions can be found with one side hinged. Pommel is urn-shaped.

Straight, single-edged (stopped at ricasso), fullered blade is ~31" to 32" in length, ~1" wide at ricasso.
These can be found with British or German manufacturer's markings.

Scabbards were of brass mounted leather.