Copyright 2006 T. Sheil & A. Sheil All Rights Reserved
The illustrations before are from the fencing master M. Alessandri. He presented this sword drill for cavalry. The stances are for practicing while dismounted. Some are similar to the 1799 Light Cavalry drill by Henry Angelo. I do not know if this method was officially accepted by the French Army. Likewise, I do not know how far it influenced the French or other armies. Many of the poses are similar to those of the US Cavalry Drill.
Long before 1890, the sword was an afterthought. Cavalrymen had shown preference for carbines and pistols as far back as the 17th Century. Swords were used, but not as often as one might suppose. By the 1870s, swords were used occasionally against natives in the colonies. World War I ended it. Aside from being used in riot control, the cavalry sword was passe'.
|
Guard |
Left and Right Point |
|
Point |
Avant droite |
|
A droite and gauche |
A droite |
|
Tierce and Quarte |
Quarte and Prime |
|
|
Parries |
Disclaimer: the fighting methods shown here are for illustrative purposes only. They are not intended as actual instruction in bayonet fighting and should not be used as such. Close combat training is dangerous. It can be as dangerous for the user as it is for the target. If you wish to learn close combat, seek a qualified instructor. One should never attempt close combat without the instruction and supervision of a qualified expert instructor .
