It should be clarified here that although the officially approved saber blade of 1845 was officially approved and was the most common typebetween 1845 and 1892, some officers who were very concerned about the design of the saber ordered unregulated types of blades. The blades were of different shapes, curved and straight, wider and narrower. Simply put, these unregulated types of blades were intended to create more effective combat weapons, according to the individual officer's own preferences, and tended to either focus on striking, pricking, or in an attempt to combine chopping and stabbing blows more effectively than the blade of the 1845 model.
These unregulated sabers and the men constructing them played a role in influencing the new normative infantry swords of the 1890s, as will be described in detail below in the case of Colonel King-Harman. Some officers chose to specifically manufacture stabbing blades on their handles from the Time of the Crimean War and earlier (for example, the so-called Percy and Toledo blades offered by Wilkinson were more specialized for stabbing strikes). Some of these earlier non-adjustable blades did not differ much in function from the 1892 blade, which later became normative.
Some images of British edged weapons on our website:
The debate about slashing and cutting blows was a thing of the past. This has been discussed in fencing manuals, newspapers, and military magazines. We can see that this question was discussed in detail in English as early as George Silver's 1599 treatise. In the 18th century, small swords were fully specialized for stabbing blows, swordsmen (rapiers) retained the ability to both strike and deliver stabbing blows, and the most curved sabers actually specialized in cutting.
During the Victorian period, different people advocated cutting, chopping blows, or a combination of both, and in some cases this was different for foot and horse fighting. Brigadier General John Jacob, for example, strongly supported stabbing swords for foot fighting, and curved slashing swords for horseback battles. This was due to his own personal experience when he punched the opponent with the tip when he was on horseback, and his sword slipped out of his grip and the blade bent in the process, leaving him virtually disarmed. Sir Richard Francis Burton, writing a few decades later, suggested that this was due to a technical error by Jacob himself.
Disagreements on this topic have been widespread at all levels of the armed forces, as well as in civilian interests. Despite all the controversy, specialized slashing sabers and specialized piercing sabers continued to be successfully used by various representatives on active duty. Each of them could be successfully used in skillful hands. By World War I, the British cavalry used a completely specialized stabbing sabre (essentially an estok), while the Indian cavalry in British service mainly used a specialized chopping sabre with a blade based on an old light cavalry sabre of the 1796 model.
The mission of ground troops is to “close in on the enemy and destroy him”. Throughout history, edged weapons have been the primary tool for accomplishing this mission. With the advent of muskets and rifles in warfare, soldiers quickly discovered the advantage of attaching a cold weapon, the bayonet, to these firearms. Today, bayonets and …
One of the strongest opponents of the European saber in hand-to-hand combat was undoubtedly the Turkish yatagan. This colorful weapon with a tibia hilt and a reverse-curved blade is memorable to anyone who has ever seen it. It is considered a true symbol of the Ottoman Empire: the Janissary Corps, the stronghold of the throne …
After World War I, the German army was limited by the victorious countries to 100,000 officers and soldiers. Such numbers were considered sufficient for the defense of their territories, but not large enough for German expansion into foreign domains. When Hitler came to power, he was quick enough to predispose an ally like the German …
All below presented checkers are museum exhibits. Cossack officer’s checker of the mid-19th century. Bulat blade, with a narrow lob along the edge. Decorated with etching and gilding: floral ornament, on the right side of the owner’s monogram – the letters “P I” under the noble crown. On the edge of the blade is stamped …
British Infantry Officers' Sabers Part 2
It should be clarified here that although the officially approved saber blade of 1845 was officially approved and was the most common type between 1845 and 1892, some officers who were very concerned about the design of the saber ordered unregulated types of blades. The blades were of different shapes, curved and straight, wider and narrower. Simply put, these unregulated types of blades were intended to create more effective combat weapons, according to the individual officer's own preferences, and tended to either focus on striking, pricking, or in an attempt to combine chopping and stabbing blows more effectively than the blade of the 1845 model.
These unregulated sabers and the men constructing them played a role in influencing the new normative infantry swords of the 1890s, as will be described in detail below in the case of Colonel King-Harman. Some officers chose to specifically manufacture stabbing blades on their handles from the Time of the Crimean War and earlier (for example, the so-called Percy and Toledo blades offered by Wilkinson were more specialized for stabbing strikes). Some of these earlier non-adjustable blades did not differ much in function from the 1892 blade, which later became normative.
The debate about slashing and cutting blows was a thing of the past. This has been discussed in fencing manuals, newspapers, and military magazines. We can see that this question was discussed in detail in English as early as George Silver's 1599 treatise. In the 18th century, small swords were fully specialized for stabbing blows, swordsmen (rapiers) retained the ability to both strike and deliver stabbing blows, and the most curved sabers actually specialized in cutting.
During the Victorian period, different people advocated cutting, chopping blows, or a combination of both, and in some cases this was different for foot and horse fighting. Brigadier General John Jacob, for example, strongly supported stabbing swords for foot fighting, and curved slashing swords for horseback battles. This was due to his own personal experience when he punched the opponent with the tip when he was on horseback, and his sword slipped out of his grip and the blade bent in the process, leaving him virtually disarmed. Sir Richard Francis Burton, writing a few decades later, suggested that this was due to a technical error by Jacob himself.
Disagreements on this topic have been widespread at all levels of the armed forces, as well as in civilian interests. Despite all the controversy, specialized slashing sabers and specialized piercing sabers continued to be successfully used by various representatives on active duty. Each of them could be successfully used in skillful hands. By World War I, the British cavalry used a completely specialized stabbing sabre (essentially an estok), while the Indian cavalry in British service mainly used a specialized chopping sabre with a blade based on an old light cavalry sabre of the 1796 model.
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Bayonets of the Third Reich.
The mission of ground troops is to “close in on the enemy and destroy him”. Throughout history, edged weapons have been the primary tool for accomplishing this mission. With the advent of muskets and rifles in warfare, soldiers quickly discovered the advantage of attaching a cold weapon, the bayonet, to these firearms. Today, bayonets and …
Turkish yataghan
One of the strongest opponents of the European saber in hand-to-hand combat was undoubtedly the Turkish yatagan. This colorful weapon with a tibia hilt and a reverse-curved blade is memorable to anyone who has ever seen it. It is considered a true symbol of the Ottoman Empire: the Janissary Corps, the stronghold of the throne …
Army dirk, 1935 Third Reich.
After World War I, the German army was limited by the victorious countries to 100,000 officers and soldiers. Such numbers were considered sufficient for the defense of their territories, but not large enough for German expansion into foreign domains. When Hitler came to power, he was quick enough to predispose an ally like the German …
Name Cossack checkers.
All below presented checkers are museum exhibits. Cossack officer’s checker of the mid-19th century. Bulat blade, with a narrow lob along the edge. Decorated with etching and gilding: floral ornament, on the right side of the owner’s monogram – the letters “P I” under the noble crown. On the edge of the blade is stamped …