Origins . A Hungarian sabre from the first half of the 10th. Though
single-edged cutting swords already existed in the Ancient world, such as the ancient Egyptian and Sumerian
sickle swords, these (usually forward instead of backward curving) weapons were chopping weapons for foot soldiers. This type of weapon developed into such heavy chopping weapons as the Greek
Machaira and Anatolian Drepanon, and it still survives as the heavy
Kukri chopping knife of the
Gurkhas. However, in ancient China foot soldiers and cavalry often used a straight, single edged sword, and in the sixth century CE a longer, slightly curved cavalry variety of this weapon appeared in southern Siberia. This "proto-sabre" (the
Turko-Mongol sabre) had developed into the true cavalry sabre by the eight century CE, and by the ninth century, it had become the usual side arm on the Eurasian steppes. The sabre arrived in Europe with the
Magyars and the
Turkic expansion. These oldest sabres had a slight curve, short, down-turned
quillons, the grip facing the opposite direction to the blade and a sharp point with the top third of the reverse edge sharpened.
Early modern period The introduction of the sabre proper in Western Europe, along with the term
sabre itself, dates to the 17th century, via the influence of the
szabla type ultimately derived from these medieval backswords. The adoption of the term is connected to the employment of Hungarian
hussar (
huszár) cavalry by Western European armies at the time. Hungarian hussars were employed as
light cavalry, with the role of harassing enemy
skirmishers, overrunning artillery positions, and pursuing fleeing troops. In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, many Hungarian hussars fled to other Central and Western European countries and became the core of light cavalry formations created there. The Hungarian term
szablya is ultimately traced to the
northwestern Turkic selebe, with contamination from the Hungarian verb
szab "to cut". The original type of sabre, or Polish
szabla, was used as a
cavalry weapon, possibly inspired by Hungarian or wider
Turco-Mongol warfare. The
karabela was a type of
szabla popular in the late 17th century, worn by the
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth nobility class, the
szlachta. While designed as a cavalry weapon, it also came to replace various types of straight-bladed swords used by infantry. The
Swiss sabre originated as a regular sword with a single-edged blade in the early 16th century, but by the 17th century began to exhibit specialized hilt types.
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth '' used by
Polish Hussars, 17th century In the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (16th–18th century) a specific type of sabre-like melee weapon, the
szabla, was used. Richly decorated sabres were popular among the
Polish nobility, who considered it to be one of the most important pieces of men's traditional attire. With time, the design of the sabre greatly evolved in the commonwealth and gave birth to a variety of sabre-like weapons, intended for many tasks. In the following centuries, the ideology of
Sarmatism as well as the Polish fascination with
Oriental cultures, customs, cuisine and warfare resulted in the
szabla becoming an indispensable part of traditional Polish culture.
Modern use general with a scabbarded
kilij of Turkish manufacture (1812) 's
M1902 officer's sabre and scabbard at the National Historic Trust site at
Castillo San Cristóbal in
San Juan, Puerto RicoThe sabre saw extensive military use in the early 19th century, particularly in the
Napoleonic Wars, during which
Napoleon used heavy
cavalry charges to great effect against his enemies. Shorter versions of the sabre were also used as sidearms by dismounted units, although these were gradually replaced by
fascine knives and
sword bayonets as the century went on. Although there was extensive debate over the effectiveness of weapons such as the sabre and
lance, the sabre remained the standard weapon of cavalry for mounted action in most armies until
World War I and in a few armies until
World War II. Thereafter it was gradually relegated to the status of a
ceremonial weapon, and most horse cavalry was replaced by
armoured cavalry from the 1930s onward. Where horse-mounted cavalry survived into World War II it was generally as mounted infantry without sabres. However the sabre was still carried by German cavalry until after the Polish campaign of 1939, after which this historic weapon was put into storage in 1941. Romanian cavalry continued to carry their straight "thrusting" sabres on active service until at least 1941.'' (1890) by
Paja Jovanović Napoleonic era Sabres were commonly used by the British in the Napoleonic era for light cavalry and infantry officers, as well as others. The elegant but effective 1803 pattern sword that the British Government authorized for use by infantry officers during the wars against
Napoleon featured a curved sabre blade which was often blued and engraved by the owner in accordance with his personal taste, and was based on the famously agile
1796 light cavalry sabre that was renowned for its brutal cutting power. Sabres were commonly used throughout this era by all armies, in much the same way that the British did. The popularity of the sabre had rapidly increased in Britain throughout the 18th century for both infantry and cavalry use. This influence was predominately from southern and eastern Europe, with the Hungarians and Austrians listed as sources of influence for the sword and style of swordsmanship in British sources. The popularity of sabres had spread rapidly through Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, and finally came to dominance as a military weapon in the British army in the 18th century, though straight blades remained in use by some, such as heavy cavalry units. (These were also replaced by sabres soon after the Napoleonic era.) The introduction of 'pattern' swords in the British army in 1788 led to a brief departure from the sabre in infantry use (though not for light cavalry), in favour of the lighter and straight bladed
spadroon. The spadroon was universally unpopular, and many officers began to unofficially purchase and carry sabres once more. In 1799, the army accepted this under regulation for some units, and in 1803, produced a dedicated pattern of sabre for certain infantry officers (flank, rifle and staff officers). The 1803 pattern quickly saw much more widespread use than the regulation intended due to its effectiveness in combat, and fashionable appeal.
Pattern 1796 light cavalry sabre The most famous British sabre of the Napoleonic era is the 1796 light cavalry model, used by troopers and officers alike (officers' versions can vary a little, but are much the same as the pattern trooper's sword). It was in part designed by the famous
John Le Marchant, who worked to improve on the previous (1788) design based on his experience with the Austrians and Hungarians. Le Marchant also developed the first official British military sword exercise manual based on this experience, and his light cavalry sabre, and style of swordsmanship went on to heavily influence the training of the infantry and the navy. The 1796 light cavalry sword was known for its brutal cutting power, easily severing limbs, and leading to the (unsubstantiated) myth that the French put in an official complaint to the British about its ferocity. This sword also saw widespread use with mounted artillery units, and the numerous militia units established in Britain to protect against a potential invasion by Napoleon.
Mameluke swords Though the sabre had already become very popular in Britain, experience in Egypt did lead to a fashion trend for
mameluke sword style blades, a type of Middle Eastern
scimitar, by some infantry and cavalry officers. These blades differ from the more typical British ones in that they have more extreme curvatures, in that they are usually not fullered, and in that they taper to a finer point. Mameluke swords also gained some popularity in France as well.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, himself carried a mameluke-style sword. In 1831, the 'Mameluke' sword became the pattern sword for British generals, as well as officers of the United States Marine Corps; in this last capacity, it is still in such use at the present time.
United States The American victory over the rebellious forces in the citadel of
Tripoli in 1805, during the
First Barbary War, led to the presentation of bejewelled examples of these swords to the senior officers of the
US Marines. Officers of the US Marine Corps still use a mameluke-pattern dress sword. Although some genuine Turkish
kilij sabres were used by Westerners, most "mameluke sabres" were manufactured in Europe; although their hilts were very similar in form to the Ottoman prototype, their blades, even when an expanded ''
was incorporated, tended to be longer, narrower and less curved than those of the true kilij.'' In the
American Civil War, the sabre was used infrequently as a weapon, but saw notable deployment in the
Battle of Brandy Station and at East Cavalry Field at the
Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Many cavalrymen—particularly on the
Confederate side—eventually abandoned the long, heavy weapons in favour of
revolvers and
carbines. The last sabre issued to
US cavalry was the
Patton saber of 1913, designed to be mounted to the cavalryman's saddle. The Patton saber is only a saber in name as it is a straight, thrust-centric sword. A US War Department circular dated 18 April 1934 announced that the saber would no longer be issued to cavalry, and that it was to be completely discarded for use as a weapon. Only dress sabers, for use by officers only, and strictly as a badge of rank, were to be retained.
Police During the 19th and into the early 20th century, sabres were also used by both mounted and dismounted personnel in some European police forces. When the sabre was used by
mounted police against crowds, the results could be devastating, as portrayed in a key scene in
Doctor Zhivago. The sabre was later phased out in favour of the
baton, or nightstick, for both practical and humanitarian reasons. The
Gendarmerie of Belgium used them until at least 1950, and the Swedish police forces until 1965. ==Dress uniform==