Designed by Major General John Gaspard Le Marchant, the 1796 patterned light cavalry saber is based on the swords of the hussars of Central and Eastern Europe. As a young captain, he observed that the design of the Model 1788 was too heavy and long and detracted from its effectiveness. Le Marchant opined that 'the swords of the Turks, Mamluks, Moors and Hungarians (were) preferable to any other'.
He gave this saber's blade a sharp curve, which made it more adept at cavalry attack methods, and designed it with a flared point that affected balance, but made slashes much more effective. It was mainly issued to British light dragoons and hussars and was also used by the King's German Legion light cavalry during the Napoleonic Wars. The blade profile became so popular that the Prussians and other German states emulated its design throughout the 19th century.