If you want a better understand of swords I would recommend watching this, it goes through a lot of sword Biomechanics and how to use one effciently ... obviously it focuses on medieval but the principles are still the same.
If you apply this to the curved cavalry sabre, or curved infantry sabre the advantages as with the curve it gives a bit less give in the middle, seems odd but it means you can lunge as as lunging if pushes away you can push the wrist out to continue to the thrust to the original location without much movement and thus stopping a defencive movement whilst dueling.
Considering most were personal made and preference it was possible to take any sword you liked onto the battlefield that fitted to the hip, there were hundreds of different hilts, blades, styles and variety on the battlefield it all depended on the person wether they prefered something heavy handed or light and manouverable.
Cavlary sabres will look very similar as they are mass produced equiptment because it wasn't just gentlemen who rode so variety in cavalry sabres is only in the Officers where the gentlemen were and as there were more infantry regiments and more officers your variety will lay within the Infantry Officer classes.
