Copyright 2006 T. Sheil & A. Sheil All Rights Reserved
The military sword appeared toward the end of the 17th Century. It was a variant of the rapier. Lighter fencing. The cavalry version, the saber, featured a curved blade for hacking attacks. These swords had sturdy blades and strong guards to protect the soldier's hands when fighting. The reason for the heavier blade, as opposed to the lighter blades used in fencing, was brutal necessity. Thin blades were fine for duels or civilian altercations, but combat demanded that the enemy be put down quickly. Even if the strike were fatal, a victim of a thrust from a thin blade could still do harm, before he fell. Also, civilian assailants were not likely to be wearing heavy belts and thick military clothing. A heavier blade could easily penetrate cloth and leather. The heavy blade of a military sword caused more damage to skin, tissue and organs as well as causing more bleeding and shock. They are the things that drop an adversary quickly.
The military sword and saber are used in the style of fencing. The style is a one-handed method, using the same blacks, parries, deflections and strikes as.saber fencing. One notable difference is that the military style tends to avoid the long thrusts of its civilian counterpart. The body remains erect, and thrusts are more conservative.
Navy cutlass technique was identical to the military saber and sword.
Keep in mind that fencing was part of a gentleman's education in the 18th and 19th Century. As the gentlemanly class provided the officer corps of most Western armies, the sword and saber were their milieu.
To demonstrate the saber, I have chosen Sir Richard Burton's style, the Hungarian Highland sword and the U.S. Army method. Burton's work was itself a distillation of French technique. The American and Hungarian styles are also like the French. I chose the following examples because they are clear illustrations of technique. Also, they are easily replicated by miniaturists. These poses are authentic and would make for exciting miniatures
Sir Richard Burton's style, based on French fencing
Engaging Guard in Carte, Inside |
Engaging Guard in Tierce, Outside |
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Prime, the First Guard |
Prime, or Hanging Guard |
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Horizontal Moulinette |
Carte Inside Guard (Weight thrown to rear foot) |
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Vertical Moulinettei |
Tierce Outside Guard (A parry, not a guard) |
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Sword grip. The top is for a modified sword, the bottom for a regulation sword or saber. |
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Dismounted Saber for Cavalrymen
Outside Half Hanger, Hanging Guard and Inside Half hanger |
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Half Circle Guard and Medium Guard |
U.S. Saber for Dismounted Troops, 1904
Guard stance |
High parry |
Defense against high strike, probably cavalry. |
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Deflect to his right |
Delfect to his left |
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Deflect up to his right |
Deflect high to his left |
Parry low to the left |
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Saber chop from high |
Thrust |
Thrust or cut |
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Disclaimer: the fighting methods shown here are for illustrative purposes only. They are not intended as actual instruction in sword 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 .
