 The elegant but effective 1803 pattern sword that the British Government authorized for use by infantry officers during the wars against Napoleon featured a curved sabre blade which was often blued and engraved by the owner in accordance with his personal taste, and was based on the famously agile 1796 light cavalry sabre that was renowned for its brutal cutting power.Sabres were commonly used throughout this era by all armies, in much the same way that the British did.The popularity of the sabre had rapidly increased in Britain throughout the 18th century for both infantry and cavalry use.