Model 1840 Cavalry Saber

Model 1840 Cavalry Saber

The Model 1840 Cavalry Saber was based on the 1822 French hussar's sabre. Unlike its replacement the Model 1860 Light Cavalry Saber the M1840 has a ridge around its quillon, a leather grip wrapped in wire (rather than grooves cut into the wooden handle) and a flat, slotted throat. It is 44in long with a 35in blade[1] and weighs roughly 2.5 lbs.

The M1840 was designed for slashing and because of its heavy flat-backed blade was given the nickname "Old Wristbreaker."[2] It was adopted due to the army's dissatisfaction with its predecessor the model 1833 dragoon saber, the first cavalry sword adopted by the US Army.[3] The iron-hilted M1833 was based on a Napoleonic-era British sword used by heavy cavalry and reputed to wrap "rubber like around a man's head and was only good for cutting butter"[4] An ornate gilded version of this earlier sword was used by general Philip Sheridan during the Civil War; Sheridan had its sheath engraved with the battles he participated in.[5] It was evident a replacement was needed so in 1838 the US Ordnance Dept bought British, French and Prussian swords and field-tested them. The troopers overwhelmingly preferred the French saber, and a copy of it was put into production in 1844.[6] A total of 2000 was ordered and by 1846, 600 were in frontline service.

The 1840 saber was used during the U.S.-Mexican War by US Cavalry. The main contractors were Ames of Cabotville, Horstmann, and Tiffany but due to the large number of swords required at least 1000 were made in Germany by S&K and imported. Some troopers used Prussian sabers as an alternative, which in contrast to the M1840 had straight blades.[7]

When production ceased in 1858 over 23700 were made.[6] During the US Civil War it continued to be issued to Union Cavalry as in the early years it was more readily available than the M1860. George B McClellan carried one at the front,[8] keeping his regulation officer's sword for full dress occasions.[9] Many were also used by the Confederacy including general Nathan Bedford Forrest who had both edges of his sword sharpened to increase combat effectiveness.

See also

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Model 1860 Light Cavalry Saber — J.E.B. Stuart with his 1860 sabre. It is shorter, lighter and less curved than the 1840 model …   Wikipedia

  • Model 1840 Light Artillery Saber — The Model 1840 Light Artillery Saber was a saber of about 38 inches in length with a curved, single edged blade and iron scabbard. Contents 1 History 2 Distinguishing features 3 See also …   Wikipedia

  • Cavalry in the American Civil War — Cavalry orderly, Rappahannock Station, Va., painting by Edwin Forbes Cavalry in the American Civil War was a branch of army service in a process of transition. It suffered from emerging technology threats, difficult logistics, and sometimes… …   Wikipedia

  • Tiffany & Co. — Tiffany s redirects here. For other uses see Tiffany Tiffany and Co. Type Public (NYSE: TIF) Industry Jewelers and silversmiths …   Wikipedia

  • List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces — Individual weapons by type and current level of use. The list is weighted towards 20th and 21st century army weapons and is not complete. Furthermore, this does not include non standard issue weapons used by United States Special Operations… …   Wikipedia

  • Список индивидуального оружия в армии США — Список индивидуального оружия в армии США, а так же её различный организация, и оружия используемое силами ООН. Этот список не включает оружие, используемое силами специального назначения, так как их специальное оборудование в основном неизвестно …   Википедия

  • List of Polish Americans — This is an incomplete list of notable Polish Americans.ListArts and EntertainmentActors* Nick Adams (1931 1968) film actor [http://crimemagazine.com/03/nickadams,0815.htm] * Grant Aleksander (1959 ) film and daytime actor Guiding Light * Stanley… …   Wikipedia

  • I, the Supreme — infobox Book | name = I, the Supreme title orig = Yo el supremo translator = Helen Lane image caption = The cover of the first US edition of the novel s translation, published by Alfred A. Knopf. author = Augusto Roa Bastos illustrator = cover… …   Wikipedia

  • Grand Duke Dimitri Constantinovich of Russia — Infobox Russian Royalty|grand duke name = Dimitri Constantinovich title =Grand Duke Dimitri Constantinovich of Russia imgw = 190px caption = spouse = issue = imperial house =House of Holstein Gottorp Romanov father =Grand Duke Constantine… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”