Georgian 'Horse head' Yeomanry officers sabre

Jim McDougall · 5th February 2024, 09:31 PM

Totally agree! There was obviously varying functional consideration by the type of unit as well as the preferences of officers in the swords they commissioned or acquired.
It seems artillery swords, dragoon swords were often closely related, many hilt designs the same.
Naval swords were often virtually the same as cavalry in many cases.

In the thread on Alamo swords, we are noting the Virginia Manufactory sabers of c. 1803-12, which had incredibly long blades for a saber.....over 40"!! (not suggesting these were used at Alamo, but among swords of period noted).
I cannot imagine what they were thinking......this would be impossible.
When these Virginia swords found use in the Civil War, blades were mostly cut back to about 34".

I have noticed that in some cases, even cavalry officers sabers in the Georgian period were unusually short, I once had a1796 officers saber pre-1801, that had about 29" blade. Perhaps it was a dress saber?

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5th February 2024, 09:31 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Totally agree! There was obviously varying functional consideration by the type of unit as well as the preferences of officers in the swords they commissioned or acquired. It seems artillery swords, dragoon swords were often closely related, many hilt designs the same. Naval swords were often virtually the same as cavalry in many cases. In the thread on Alamo swords, we are noting the Virginia Manufactory sabers of c. 1803-12, which had incredibly long blades for a saber.....over 40"!! (not suggesting these were used at Alamo, but among swords of period noted). I cannot imagine what they were thinking......this would be impossible. When these Virginia swords found use in the Civil War, blades were mostly cut back to about 34". I have noticed that in some cases, even cavalry officers sabers in the Georgian period were unusually short, I once had a1796 officers saber pre-1801, that had about 29" blade. Perhaps it was a dress saber?