Archive for the ‘sword’ tag
Cavalry Sword
Military Swords to Handguns – An Evolution on the Battlefield
In addition to Sharon’s and my novels, I write about a great many things. Frequently, I write about swords and about handguns. In the military context, both swords and handguns have utility beyond mere use as a weapon. They have been and still are symbols of leadership. In battle, the officer leading his unit into the fray frequently hasn’t the luxury of carrying a rifle with fixed bayonet. Often, he needs to have a hand free, either for hand and arm signals, or, in some cases in the past, prepping a whistle for command signals.
During the “modern” era of United States horse-mounted cavalry, the handgun would be worn on the right side of the belt, holstered butt forward. This carry method enabled the officer or enlisted man so equipped to “crossdraw” his handgun, with the left hand, or perform a twist or “cavalry” draw, with his right hand. More often, the cavalry draw was what was used. But, when the saber was to be employed, it was drawn from the left side with the right hand and the left hand was used to draw the pistol.
As the sword began to vanish from the battlefield as an actual weapon, it was still employed in the leadership function. During the American Civil War of the 1860s, equipment availability permitting, a common Confederate cavalry tactic was to ride into saber range with Union forces and, instead of fighting steel to steel, merely draw and discharge as many handguns as were available at saber – read that as “point blank” – range.
As the sword faded from the battlefield, quality faded from the sword. Today, we are fortunate enough to live during what can well be described as a “renaissance of the blade.” Large, well-respected firms and individual makers are offering swords of every description that are, historical swords notwithstanding, to be ranked solidly among the best swords ever made. With modern steels and computer controlled heat treating, the conscientious maker, be it large or small, can create a sword any of the greatest swordsmen of history would have been proud to carry into battle, to lead the attack and shout, “Follow me, men!”
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Royal Armouries history of British Cavalry sword film clip
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VTG PRESENTATION GRADE CIVIL WAR UNION CAVALRY OFFICER’S SABER SWORD $1,935.00 |
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Confederate Haimans Cavalry Sword & Scabbard $1,925.00 |
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U.S. Model 1860 Civil War Cavalry Sword with Steel Scabbard $1,550.00 |
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U.S. CIVIL WAR M1860 CAVALRY SABER, SWORD, made in 1865 $1,499.00 |
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U.S. Model 1818 Cavalry Saber / Sword with Steel Scabbard $1,450.00 |
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US Civil War Nathan Starr N Starr Cavalry Sword with Scabbard Exc Condition 1818 $1,259.99 |
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U.S. Model 1860 Civil War Cavalry Sword with Steel Scabbard $1,150.00 |
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U.S. Model 1860 Cavalry Saber / Sword with Steel Scabbard $1,050.00 |
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Horstmann of Philadelphia Civil War Cavalry Sword M1840 $999.95 |
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U.S. Model 1860 Civil War Cavalry Sword with Steel Scabbard $975.00 |
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VINTAGE ANTIQUE CIVIL WAR CAVALRY SABER SWORD MODEL 1840 TIFFANY $850.00 |
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Antique American Civil War Sword US cavalry saber Wrist Breaker $850.00 |
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US Civil War Model 1840 TIFFANY Cavalry Sword $800.00 |
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Antique US Civil War 1840 Heavy Cavalry Saber – SHEBLE & FISHER Sword Vtg Old $700.00 |
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Antique US Civil War 1860 Union Light Cavalry Sword -C. ROBY -1860 Saber Vtg Old $700.00 |
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ENGLISH CAVALRY SWORD 1853 PATTERN $650.00 |
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ORIGINAL AMERICAN CAVALRY SWORD WITH SCABBARD USED IN CIVIL WAR $650.00 |
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MODEL 1840 US HEAVY CAVALRY ORIGINAL SABER USED CIVIL WAR PERIOD -sword,dagger $600.00 |
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MODEL 1840 US HEAVY CAVALRY ORIGINAL SABER USED CIVIL WAR PERIOD -K&C SWORD $600.00 |
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Civil War Cavalry Saber Sword made by C.R. Kirschbaum $600.00 |
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ORIGINAL US CIVIL WAR ERA ENGLISH P1821 CAVALRY SWORD $595.00 |
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US German Germany Made R & C Model 1840 Civil War Cavalry Sword $550.00 |
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Original Civil War Model 1860 Roby Cavalry Saber Sword $455.00 |
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US German Germany Made Model 1840 Civil War Cavalry Sword $450.00 |
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US GERMAN MADE CIVIL WAR CAVALRY SWORD $400.00 |
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U.S. Cavalry Sword $400.00 |
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U.S. Cavalry Sword $400.00 |
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CIVIL WAR HEAVY CAVALRY SABER SWORD Model 1859 UNMARKED $399.00 |
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US Civil War German Made Cavalry Sword Dagger Knife $350.00 |
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US CIVIL WAR M1860 JM CAVALRY SWORD SABER 1865 w/ LEATHER HANGER & SCABBARD $338.00 |
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PRESENTATION GRADE SILVER GRIP CAVALRY OFFICER SWORD $329.99 |
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Model 1840 Sword, Wristbreaker Cavalry Saber w/ Scabbard, C&J Mark,Clemen & Jung $300.00 |
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Antique German Germany 19 Century Cavalry Sword Wide blade $300.00 |
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Scarce Kirschbaum Model 1853 Cavalry sword US Civil War used No Reserve $295.00 |
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Rare D.J. Millard Light Cavalry Model 1860 Sword Blade Marked U.S. $295.00 |
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CIVIL WAR ERA 6 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ TINTYPE CAVALRY SOLDIER in UNIFORM w SWORD $249.95 |
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CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT CAVALRY SABRE SWORD WITH LEATHER HANGER $241.00 |
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1860 Light Cavalry Sword 1861 dated Good condition Nice example…….. …. .NR $219.00 |
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1860 Light Cavalry Sword 1862 dated Good condition Nice example ………… .NR $219.00 |
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M1860 Cavalry Sabre Original Civil War Sword JBA RARE $202.50 |
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1860 CIVIL WAR US CAVALRY OFFICER SWORD & SCABBARD -A NICE QUALITY SET $189.99 |
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US Civil War N. STARR Cavalry Sword 1 $187.50 |
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CONFEDERATE CSA MCELROY CAVALRY OFFICER SWORD w/ ETCHED BLADE & METAL SCABBARD $169.99 |
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AMES 1840 CIVIL WAR CAVALRY SWORD & SCABBARD “OLD WRISTBREAKER” NICE SWORD!!!!!! $159.99 |
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AN AGED STEEL AMES SCABBARD FOR 1860 CAVALRY SWORD $149.99 |
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AMES 1860 CIVIL WAR CAVALRY SWORD & SCABBARD -A NICE QUALITY SWORD! $149.99 |
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NEW YORK CAVALRY CIVIL WAR CDV PHOTO OFFICER WITH SWORD $125.00 |
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Civil War Cavalry Sabre Sword Cut Down Dated 1862 $98.32 |
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CIVIL WAR US MODEL 1860 CAVALRY SWORD, ROBY MAKER, $97.69 |
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A QUALITY STEEL AMES SCABBARD FOR 1840 HEAVY CAVALRY SWORD WRISTBREAKER $89.99 |