Cavalry sabre with a parabolic blade

Richard G · 7th January 2014, 12:45 PM

I've always known these as bandsmen's swords.
Regards
Richard

Jim McDougall · 7th January 2014, 06:18 PM

Bandsmens swords? Now that is really interesting Richard! Can you please say more on what military etc. do you mean British or Portuguese? Can you please note what references might have this?

Its not that I am doubting this, but most of the band swords I have seen are of course the brass hilted short swords listed in the Robson books for British army swords. Some of these do have short sabre blades but certainly not these long ad dramatically curved blades.

As an aside pertaining to these dramatically parabolic blades, another instance of these are the examples made in America by the Virginia Manufactory of arms around 1808. These sabres had a slotted stirrup type hilt with a long deeply curved blade (40"). I often wondered why in the world these were so long and incredibly curved, but in retrospect I am thinking about the 'swagger' factor we have noted here. The state of Virginia is known for rather being its own 'country' in those early days, and the officers of their cavalry were known for flamboyance and 'swagger', one of them was of course 'Lighthorse Harry' Lee, father of Robert E. Lee.
In the Civil War, these sabres were apparently still in use or drawn out of stores, and the blades considerably shortened, presumably to render them more usable in combat.

fernando · 7th January 2014, 08:34 PM

Bandsmen swords ? I am getting more and more distant from where i started with this sword query

I mean, flanking sword was already an enigma (for me) but then, i am far from being a connoisseur. Naturaly knowing the basic meaning of the term 'flank' i searched for 'flankers' into the military environment. I didn't go further from flanking being a way of either defending the flanks of an infantry formation or atacking it, either by footmen or cavalry. I was not lucky to find any writings on swords made specifically for such maneuvers; neither i discern the difference between a 'basic' cavalry sword and a flanker's one. Still i am not closed to that ... and Sirupate must know what he is talking about.
Now, a bandsmen sword; the only examples i found on the Net have nothing (at all) to do with this sword i am posting. But a Net search is what it is; i am prepared for whatever comes from a further explanation, in this case from Richard G ... if not from whoever decides to enlighten me/us

Jim McDougall · 7th January 2014, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Bandsmen swords ? I am getting more and more distant from where i started with this sword query

I mean, flanking sword was already an enigma (for me) but then, i am far from being a connoisseur. Naturaly knowing the basic meaning of the term 'flank' i searched for 'flankers' into the military environment. I didn't go further from flanking being a way of either defending the flanks of an infantry formation or atacking it, either by footmen or cavalry. I was not lucky to find any writings on swords made specifically for such maneuvers; neither i discern the difference between a 'basic' cavalry sword and a flanker's one. Still i am not closed to that ... and Sirupate must know what he is talking about.
Now, a bandsmen sword; the only examples i found on the Net have nothing (at all) to do with this sword i am posting. But a Net search is what it is; i am prepared for whatever comes from a further explanation, in this case from Richard G ... if not from whoever decides to enlighten me/us

I agree Nando, that cryptic note is baffling!! Pulleeeze Richard can you tell us any more?

Norman McCormick · 7th January 2014, 08:58 PM

Hi Fernando,
Do a search for 1803 Flank Officers sword and see images. When I saw your sword the blade profile reminded me of some of the more 'curved' varieties of this pattern of British sword.
My Regards,
Norman.

7th January 2014, 06:18 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	Bandsmens swords? Now that is really interesting Richard! Can you please say more on what military etc. do you mean British or Portuguese? Can you please note what references might have this? Its not that I am doubting this, but most of the band swords I have seen are of course the brass hilted short swords listed in the Robson books for British army swords. Some of these do have short sabre blades but certainly not these long ad dramatically curved blades. As an aside pertaining to these dramatically parabolic blades, another instance of these are the examples made in America by the Virginia Manufactory of arms around 1808. These sabres had a slotted stirrup type hilt with a long deeply curved blade (40"). I often wondered why in the world these were so long and incredibly curved, but in retrospect I am thinking about the 'swagger' factor we have noted here. The state of Virginia is known for rather being its own 'country' in those early days, and the officers of their cavalry were known for flamboyance and 'swagger', one of them was of course 'Lighthorse Harry' Lee, father of Robert E. Lee. In the Civil War, these sabres were apparently still in use or drawn out of stores, and the blades considerably shortened, presumably to render them more usable in combat. Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 7th January 2014 at 07:10 PM.

7th January 2014, 12:45 PM	#1
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 409	I've always known these as bandsmen's swords. Regards Richard

7th January 2014, 08:34 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Bandsmen swords ? I am getting more and more distant from where i started with this sword query I mean, flanking sword was already an enigma (for me) but then, i am far from being a connoisseur. Naturaly knowing the basic meaning of the term 'flank' i searched for 'flankers' into the military environment. I didn't go further from flanking being a way of either defending the flanks of an infantry formation or atacking it, either by footmen or cavalry. I was not lucky to find any writings on swords made specifically for such maneuvers; neither i discern the difference between a 'basic' cavalry sword and a flanker's one. Still i am not closed to that ... and Sirupate must know what he is talking about. Now, a bandsmen sword; the only examples i found on the Net have nothing (at all) to do with this sword i am posting. But a Net search is what it is; i am prepared for whatever comes from a further explanation, in this case from Richard G ... if not from whoever decides to enlighten me/us

7th January 2014, 08:58 PM	#5
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,613	Hi Fernando, Do a search for 1803 Flank Officers sword and see images. When I saw your sword the blade profile reminded me of some of the more 'curved' varieties of this pattern of British sword. My Regards, Norman.