Posts: 17 Location: Ohio, USA
Wed 14 May, 2008 11:05 pm
Foot Officer's Swords
I too am new here so I hope I don't offend by putting in my two cents. I fenced in college, went to a Military Academy. so I have some experience. It sounds like you plan to practice on foot, and you would be best served witha weapon that was designed to be used on foot. The reason that cavalry sabers are designed the way they were is to give optimum use while mounted. That said I think the Patton M1913 US Cavalry Saber or the 1908 British Cav Saber would be your best bets for both the intricate moves of fencing as well as slashes. They have execellent points and are superbly balanced weapons and while the principal tactic in their use was to create a sort of human, horse powered missle focusing on the point, Both sabers have a good edge as well. On foot they would serve anyone well in a sword duel.
Don't discount a foot officer's sword/ saber. While many are straight bladed some have a slight curve and all have both a sharp point and a good edge. The 1842 British Officers Sword comes to mind, as I have one in my collection. It handles superbly, it is light, well balanced, has a nice long blade that comes to a good point and is solid and heavy enough to use as a hacking weapon as well. The are a great many companies out there that offer reproductions of foot officers swords from all nations and in a variety of styles. I recommend focusing on a weapon that is well balanced and light. A heavy sword will wear out you and your arm very quickly, which is what will happen with a lot of your heavy cavalry type weapon. There was a reason the US 1840 Pattern cavalry saver was nicknamed "The Wristbreaker". In college we often would "fence", it was more like swashbuckling, with our US Army Colonial Pattern Officer's Swords. This is the sword that is current;y the regulation sword for US Army Officers. There are also a great many suppliers of these weapons out there as well. And a well made sword of this type handles quite well and is not all that fatiguing. I was just on
www.totalnavy.com looking at ship models and noticed they have a nice selection of US Military swords. the US Marine Officer's mamaluke sabre could fit the bill as well. Their offering of the 1902 Presentation swrod would work as it's a suped up 1872 US Cav Officers saber.
I've attached a few piucs which I borrowed from the totalnavy.com website to give you a good view of what theswe weapons look like. Good hunting
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the varying US military swords: Army, Academy, Marine NCO, Air Force, Marine Officer and Navy Officer
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the patton saber similar to the1908 Brit as well